Note that on steeper or faster breaking waves you may need to step
back with both feet to avoid nose diving. Initially you shouldn’t be in
surf that needs it but we should have the concept of moving around
the board freely whilst surfing because we are going to need it a lot
later on.
Etiquette and safety
Surf etiquette and rules of priority are long standing and internationally
recognised. The good news is that if you adhere to them and don’t be a
SUP donkey (there are plenty of these, we don’t need more!) then you
will have fun in the water without problems. The bad news is that if you
infringe them and become a pest - or worse, a danger to others - then
your SUP surfing experience will probably end badly.
SUP surfboards and paddles are inherently quicker through the
water, catch waves much earlier and are potentially much more
hazardous than regular surfboards, so the following need not only
to be taken seriously but not pushed to the limit either. A light
touch will go down well.
Don’t paddle to the top of the line up. There will be an existing and
slightly fluid pecking order at all popular beaches. Take your time,
start a little down from the top dogs holding prime position and slowly
work your way to where the primo waves are breaking. Let everyone
get used to your presence.
Right of way
The surfer deepest in the peak of the wave or closest to the breaking
part of the wave has right of way. This doesn’t mean that you can spin
around at the last moment inside someone who has clearly been
waiting. This is called snaking and isn’t well received.
Dropping in
Dropping in is to deliberately take off on a wave already being ridden
or when someone else has clear right of way. DO NOT DROP IN.
Paddling right of way
Rider has priority. This means that if you are in front of a wave that is
being ridden and by trying to paddle over the shoulder of the wave
you would impede the surfers ride, then you paddle towards the
whitewater and take the hit. Secondly when paddling back out to the
line up in clear water, try to give the waves being ridden plenty of
clearance by paddling wide. As mentioned earlier, don’t ditch your
board where it could cause harm to others.
Don’t be a wave