There has been a ton of stuff written on surfing etiquette and who has the right of way on a wave. Even though there are some very grey areas, for the most part it’s a given that the person deepest in the curl has the right of way.
Yeah, there are the arguments like, “But I stood up first,” and “But I waited longer” and the always popular, “My wave, my beach, my chicks, go home!” But, all that said, for the most part it still comes down to who took off deepest and that’s pretty much that.
Today, though I want to go over a different “right of way.” It’s about who has priority between the surfer riding a wave and the surfer, or surfers, paddling out. This has been a major source of irritation for me for as long as I can remember. I have touched on it a little bit in the past although not making a big point about it.
Today I want to make a big point about it because a huge percentage of surfers, even some experienced ones, just don’t get it.
The surfer on the wave has the right of way. The surfer, or surfers, paddling out need to respect this and get out of the way of the rider coming toward them. In many cases this means that the paddlers must eat some white water to do it.
And this is where most of the problems happen. If there is any size at all to the surf, most people who are paddling out do not want to sacrifice themselves to let the rider go by. They want to get over the shoulder and if it means screwing up the wave for the person riding it then tough cookies, it’s their problem. Better safe and say, “I’m sorry.”
Now I can understand if the surf is a zillion feet and there is a nasty coral reef inches below the water line, ya do what ya gotta do. But this happens more than not in small- to medium- sized surf where nobody is gonna die.
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen some panicked look and big-eyed terror on the face of somebody scratching to get over a four-foot wave and paddling directly in front of somebody coming down in the curl. Even worse are those who paddle up the face and bail their board out thinking the wave is gonna break on them. This naturally sends their board directly into the rider coming down the wave. This happens to me pretty much on a weekly basis and no matter how many times it does I still can’t believe it. Most of the time the person is already safely going over the wave but they just freak out and jump off.
For the most part, people should not be paddling out right through the lineup, but they do. I see good surfers do this all the time and many times get right in the way of somebody else. It always makes me wonder what they are thinking, like are they intentionally getting in the way or what? Common sense and just general politeness would tell you to paddle around and not right in the line where the waves are breaking.
Now, there are times when it just happens to you and you have no choice in the matter. Like if you eat it on a wave and you are stuck inside. There are times when you just can’t get out of the way no matter what you try to do. There is nothing you can do about it but wave your arms to show the person on the wave that you are stuck and can’t do anything. Then it is the responsibility of the rider to not run you down. This happens.
Also, just more common sense (something lacking in most situations) would tell you that it’s not cool to run somebody down no matter what. A person rudely paddles right in your way just as you are pulling into the barrel and your mind is screaming, “Get out of the way you geek.” You have the choice of taking them out big time or straightening out and probably eating it in the process. What do you do? Hopefully not run ’em over, even though you might want to.
We all gotta survive out there. Next time you are paddling out maybe think about what I have said here today and give the people on the waves a bit more room and paddle further around.
And if you do get caught in the way, give the clear path to the rider and eat the white water. You will not die.
