wave journal of a surfer girl: Surf Etiquette

04 July 2009

Surf Etiquette

Surf etiquette, from the wall at Capitola Beach:

Don't drop in
Don't paddle through the middle of the break
Take turns
First one up has the right of way
Communicate your direction
Respect the ocean, the beach, other surfers
Aloha

3 comments:

Growling GeckoJuly 04, 2009
And the most important:
Rule No 1 - Furthest out or waiting the longest has right of way
http://www.surfingaustralia.com/SurfCode/Tribal_Law.pdf
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Dr Mad FishJuly 04, 2009
Yes, that is supposed to be one of our local laws, it is posted here by the surf school which is respected, but no one sticks to that rule. So much so that it is necessary to break most of the other laws just to get a wave. But we love our fellow man, don't we?
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CynthiaJuly 04, 2009
We all need a reminder from time to time.
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Dawn at the beach. Air almost 50 degrees, water slightly warmer. Full moon hanging over the ocean, sun rising from the hills. Swell gently lifting my surfboard a little closer to the sky as it passes by on its way to touch the beach. Icy water trickling down the front of my wetsuit. Feet going numb from the cold despite neoprene booties and thermal socks. Two dolphins in the lineup chase silver fish, who leap into the air in a swirling mass, sparkling in the first rays of the sun. Then "pwwwfff!" as another dolphin surfaces and exhales not a dozen feet from me, before gracefully sliding back under the water. What a great way to start the day!