Surf Etiquette - General Guidelines
The ocean is for everyone to enjoy in a
safe and respectful manner. The last few
years have seen a large influx in the surfing
scene all over New England. If we all can
follow a few simple rules it will make for
a surfing experience filled with good memories
and tales of surf for years to come.
1) Please drive slowly and carefully through
inhabited areas and towns. Many coastal towns
have small children who play in or near the
streets and roads.
2) Respect the environment, do not litter
and use the portable johns and full facilities
available at many nearby beaches.
3) Respect the locals and the other surfers
around you and learn the Surfer's Code of
Ethics (see below).
4) If you are a longboarder or a kayaker
respect the short boarders and body boarders
who are trying to catch waves further down
in the break zone: let them catch more than "a
few" waves.
Thanks to AEL for the original version of
the guidelines. Send any additions and corrections
to webmaster@nesurf.com
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Help make our breaks
safer: inform your fellow surfers of the
Surfer's Code of Ethics, many of them don't
know these simple rules.
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Surfer A is up and surfing a wave,
Surfer B is paddling to take-off. Surfer
A has right of way. Surfer
B must get out of the way of Surfer
A. If B does catch the wave he/she
is "dropping-in" on Surfer
A. NEVER DROP IN!
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Surfer A and B are both paddling for
the same wave and both are relatively
close to the peak. However, Surfer A
is nearer the peak and therefore has
the right of way. Surfer A has
right of way. Surfer B MUST
stop paddling, get out of the way and
give way to Surfer A. |
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Surfer A is riding a wave, Surfer B
is attempting to take off between Surfer
A and the peak. By virtue of having established
right of way in the take-off zone, Surfer
A has the right of way. Surfer
B is not entitled to catch the wave and
should wait for the next wave. |
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An unridden wave has just been
caught by Surfer A, Surfer B is taking
off in a more ideal, closer to the peak,
position. Unless surfer A has been riding
for "a while" (see example
above), Surfer B has right of
way. |
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Surfer A and B have both caught the
same wave, surfer A is on the shoulder
close to the peak Surfer B is in the
broken, whitewater, section of a wave. Surfer
A has the right of way. Surfer
B should KOOK OUT (go
straight towards the "beach" riding
the whitewater). |
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Surfer A is riding on the shoulder
when the whitewater mometarily "catches
up to him" (or he/she gets tubed),
Surfer B is paddling for the wave. Surfer
A has the right of way. Surfer
B must not takeoff. Since there is a
chance that Surfer B did not see Surfer
A, Surfer A must let Surfer B know he's
coming. |
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Surfer B was riding the wave when is
progress was halted, Surfer A is in position
to take-off. Surfer A is entitled
to takeoff. |
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Surfer A and Surfer B are paddling
for take-off, Surfer B is attempting
to get closer to the peak by paddling
in front of (or around) Surfer A. Surfer
A has right of way. Surfer B
is snaking, DO NOT SNAKE! |
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Surfer A and Surfer B are both attempting
to take-off in a situation where there
is a rideable left and right shoulder. Surfer
A has right of way on the right hand
shoulder while surfer B has right of
way on the left hand shoulder.
Call out, "left" or "right" as
appropriate. Communicate. |
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Surfer A and Surfer B are both attempting
to take-off in a situation where there
is a rideable left and right shoulder,
but Surfer B is attempting to cross-under
the peak. Surfer B is not entitled
to cross under the peak to the shoulder
already occupied by Surfer A. |
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Surfer A is entitled to cross
under the the peak to the unoccupied
right-hander shoulder. In
doing so the left-hander shoulder will
become available for other surfers
to catch. |
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Surfer A and Surfer B are both riding
in a wave that is closing out. Both surfers
are entitled to takeoff and ride the
unbroken wave section and neither has
right of way. Both must pull
off the wave before a collision occurs.
Use common sense. |
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Surfer A is riding the wave Surfer
B who is either stationary or paddling
out. Surfer A has priority but must try
to avoid Surfer B. Surfer B must try
to paddle away so as not to interfere
with A. |
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Surfer B has thrown the board to duck
dive. NEVER THROW YOUR BOARD. It
is a danger to you and others. Note: For
the same reason do not "kick-out" of
a wave when close to other surfers. |
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Surfer B is paddling out. When paddling
out: use any rips or channels and paddle
around surfable sections. DO NOT paddle
out through the lineup or the rideable
sections of the break. |
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Surfer B has been "caught inside".
When caught inside stay in the white
water and go around the rideable sections
of the break to get back out. |
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If anyone around you
is violating these rules inform them directly,
immediately and politely (dip).
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This code was developed
by the Surfrider
Foundation and modified by NESurf.com.
Used with permission.
Print this out and distribute it freely to as many people as you can
(noncommercial purposes only). |
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