So you’ve got all the fundamentals down, the last thing to talk about is surf etiquette. It’s not just a free for all out there, if it was more people would be getting hurt. In this article we’ll cover the 5 most important pieces of surf etiquette.

Surf etiquette is more important the more critical the waves get. So when you are starting out, find a beginner beach or surf break. If you have no idea where to surf, ask around, look up surf spots online and on message boards, see if you can find anyone talking about beginner breaks. If you really can’t figure it out, go ask a lifeguard, they might be able to point you in the right direction. The rules are going to be more relaxed here, it’ll be safer for everyone. Don’t just paddle into the lineup at an advanced break, that’s a good way to get hurt.

Here are my top 5 pieces of surf etiquette.

Tip #1: Don’t drop in!

If somebody is already in the wave, and they were closest to the peak, don’t try to paddle in and stand up in front of them.

Now you are going to hear different versions of who has the right to a wave, closest to the peak, first to their feet, etc. But moral of the story here is, if somebody is already surfing the wave, don’t drop in on them, you will not only ruin there wave, but there is a good chance you’ll get somebody hurt.

So when you are paddling for waves, make sure you double check, really look and make sure that nobody else is in the wave or about to get into the wave.

Tip #2: Don’t snake!

So what do I mean by snaking? Basically, don’t paddle around people to get the inside position at the last minute. There are only so many waves, and with that comes patience and taking turns.

So if you just caught a wave and you come back out to the line up and the next guy is in a spot to catch it, don’t just paddle around or in front to catch another. Nobody likes a snake!

Tip #3: Don’t ditch your board!

It’s a simple as that. Be aware of who is around you, always keep control of your giant board! Nobody wants to get hit with it!

Tip #4: Paddle out in the right spot

This is a little harder to learn and practice sometimes, but don’t paddle into the path of surfers. Try paddling towards where the wave already broke (behind them).

At times it may be hard to tell if a surfer is coming your way or you may just feel like you can’t get any speed to get around, either way make an effort to get out of the way.

It’s on you to take the whitewash or a wave on the head, the surfer on the wave has a right to the open face.

Tip #5: Show respect in the water

Apologize if you drop in or run someone over. We’re all human, we make mistakes, things happen really fast out in the water. But if you show a little respect and make sure your fellow surfers are safe, you’ll be fine.

If you need help understanding anything about surf etiquette, feel free to leave a comment on my YouTube video or shoot me an email. In the next article, I’m going to cover expectations for a beginner surfer, and then we’ll wrap this series up.