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In surfing, you can't just do whatever you want on the spot. You have to follow priority rules!
By respecting them, you'll have a great session and meet new people on the water.
These rules have been around for years, and any surfer worthy of the name must respect them.
They help surfers get along with each other, and above all ensure everyone's safety in the water. If you've ever been hit in the thigh by another surfer's drift, you probably know what we're talking about. And if it hasn't happened to you, we'll give you the essential rules to follow to make sure it doesn't.
This is surely the most important!
It is forbidden to tax or snake another surfer.
Imagine you're in a restaurant, your food arrives and the person at the next table comes to eat from your plate. You wouldn't be very happy. Here it's the same thing: the surfer who's furthest up the peak gets priority. You're also not allowed to take off further inland than the best-placed surfer (snaking).
If you unintentionally miss a priority, get out of the wave as quickly as possible and don't forget to apologize.
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When you paddle out to sea, you have to go around the peak to avoid disturbing other surfers on their waves, or even getting hit by your board or daggerboard. You'll remember...
So you can either paddle outside the peak and stay after the breaking waves, or you can paddle into the impact zone and stay in the foam where the surfer has already passed, but you risk spending more time in the impact zone to reach the peak.
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Don't hesitate to make yourself heard when you ride your wave to avoid being taxed or snookered. A simple "OUEP" or whistle may suffice. And when you find yourself on a spot where the peak works both ways, don't hesitate to state the direction in which you're going "right" or "left" so that the wave can be used by a second person if it allows.
On the other hand, don't make a mistake when announcing your wave, or you risk collision and confusion.
If you ever announce that you're going to ride the wave (while having the right of way), you can't give up your take-off at the last moment out of fear or lack of confidence, as you risk being frowned upon later at the peak. If you can't feel it, it's best to leave it to the surfer behind you. Don't hesitate to tell him you're leaving it to him, and he might just give you a wave in the next series.
You can also say hello when you arrive at the peak. It's a sign of respect that's tending to disappear, but it's nice to see courteous and polite people arriving at the peak.
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You must always hold your board firmly and never throw it behind or in front of you, as it could injure someone.
If you don't feel like ducking and prefer to dive underwater without the board, make sure no one is behind you, as they could potentially get the board stuck in their head.
The same goes for the take-off: you mustn't throw your board, as you could injure someone.
A very important thing too!
Don't forget to surf at your own level. Don't venture into 2m50 waves if you're not comfortable in 1m50.
Don't forget that the ocean is a dangerous place and that you should never overestimate yourself. Always analyze the weather conditions, tides, swell and spot before getting in the water.
Respect these few rules, and we can assure you that you'll make friends in the water ;)
