Surf Etiquette? Anybody? Bueller?

Let’s talk about surf etiquette…dare we?

Does it still exist? In some areas of the world it is still law. Try paddling out at Ala Moana Bowls and dropping in on one of the Uncle’s. It will be a really bad day for you. At best, your surf session ends there. At worst, well you know!!!

In many areas of California, I often wonder if it is still a thing. Obviously. there are the spots that keep everything in check, but pick a random parking area and paddle out with 100 other folks and you are sure to get snaked. Most likely by the unknowing surfer that was never taught the rules of the land, or in this case, water. Part of this starts from surf schools. I like the idea of sharing the stoke we have to surf, but let’s explain the rules to the students before their feet get wet. If any of these potential surfers carry on with this great sport, they are most likely unaware that etiquette is a large part of the sport and usually learn on the ugly end of things.

Let me show my age and start with, back in my day…LOL! But this is true. There were no surf schools or places that you went to “learn to surf” as they say. We begged our parents for a surfboard, got dropped off at the beach, and had to figure things out on our own. I surfed a pretty localized spot in Cocoa Beach at 3^rd St N, but we called it Desperado’s - named to the restaurant out front. It was also known as The Islander Hut for the little beach shack on the boardwalk that served bar food and beer served by Kelly Slater's Mom. Today, all the restaurants are gone and a condo sits out front. The street has been renamed "Slater Way," as the young Slaters would often surf there.

This was the place to surf and it was mainly an older group that was very stingy about sharing waves. I had to put in years to get better and I finally gained a little respect and stopped getting yelled at for being in the lineup and getting in the way. It was all I knew and I figured that was how surfing worked. I look back on it all and I am grateful for this painful experience, as it made me respectful of other surfers and when I travel I know exactly how to work my way into the lineup and eventually catch some pretty good waves.

How can we go back to this? I’m not sure we can. Surfing is mainstream and too popular to properly introduce surfers to the right approach in a lineup. I’m lucky enough to live at a pretty secluded beach and usually have the ocean to myself. I understand when I travel that I have to adjust my mindset and be ready to deal with crowds and the occasional drop in. My best suggestion, all foam boards should come with a set of etiquette rules. Maybe then, just maybe, we will start chipping away at the problem.