I thought this was worth a watch for those new to surfing or for those who have forgot the way and spoil the rep for the rest.

HI Phill

I totally agree with your stand point but thought the vid was applicable as a lot of people are entering surf for the first time and etiquette mistakes can be made in the excitement of riding a wave, then another and another. It was not meant that we should stand aside because we ride SUPs. All craft have equal rights (except surf boats and Jet Skis)

At a local surf spot here, that I have surfed various craft for almost twenty years, I had issue with one surfer. This place has a particular take off spot and most who surf it are local that we all know. It is the type of place that is a crowd at 10 in the water. On this day there was one surfer who I had not seen before snaking in all the time in front of all. As on a SUP you can take off another 5m wider so he kept going on the inside and taking all waves he could. He didn't care even when politely reminded. So I sat on him and took his next few and asked him how he liked it. He got the point.

We have a fairly good acceptance in Buddina as the beach is so long you can spread. Even a lot of the locals who said they would never do it a year ago have had a loan of my boards. However out at Carties it is a different issue and has even been in the paper about SUPs hogging waves. It would be a shame if we all got tared with the same brush as we are an easy target as the newer craft in the water.

Swanie ,more guys need to take your stance,and keep enforcing surf etiquette,for the guys who dont know better or think it doesn't apply to them, because there so special

Swanie said...

HI Phill

I totally agree with your stand point but thought the vid was applicable as a lot of people are entering surf for the first time and etiquette mistakes can be made in the excitement of riding a wave, then another and another. It was not meant that we should stand aside because we ride SUPs. All craft have equal rights (except surf boats and Jet Skis)

At a local surf spot here, that I have surfed various craft for almost twenty years, I had issue with one surfer. This place has a particular take off spot and most who surf it are local that we all know. It is the type of place that is a crowd at 10 in the water. On this day there was one surfer who I had not seen before snaking in all the time in front of all. As on a SUP you can take off another 5m wider so he kept going on the inside and taking all waves he could. He didn't care even when politely reminded. So I sat on him and took his next few and asked him how he liked it. He got the point.

We have a fairly good acceptance in Buddina as the beach is so long you can spread. Even a lot of the locals who said they would never do it a year ago have had a loan of my boards. However out at Carties it is a different issue and has even been in the paper about SUPs hogging waves. It would be a shame if we all got tared with the same brush as we are an easy target as the newer craft in the water.

When you think about it the concept of surf etiquette is irrelevant. It's just basic decent manners and decent behaviour.

All you really need to do is not hassle other people and wait your turn. The same rules apply in surfing, supermarket queues, driving in traffic, and just about anything else in life.

Having said that, the reason I pulled back from surfing in the 80's was that the concept of "wait your turn" was conspicuously absent. You always get the more skilled or more agressive surfers taking the greater share of waves. It still happens and the competition level longboarders seem to be the worst offenders.

It's a touch ironic that SUP puts me in a position to get more waves, and age and maturity and the SUP ethical issues highight the need to share waves in a lineup.