Basic Rules to Surfing
29 commentsHere are the basic rules to surfing. If you read them, you should be safe in the surf. (And so should everyone else.) They are in no order of importance, but all are relevant. Remember - surf safely and respect your fellow water babes.
Surfing Dos And Don'ts
- Alcohol: Surfing under the influence is not a good idea. Save the drinking for the after-surf bragging session at your local where you can tell everyone just how many barrels you got earlier.
- Be Aware: Be aware of other surfers and water users, of the surf conditions, and of where you are surfing. (See below under "Patrolled Beaches".)
- Comfort Zone: You should surf in waves that you are comfortable with. Don't get in over your head.
- Fitness: Make sure you are physically fit when surfing. You need to be able to swim back to shore if you lose your board at the end of an exhausting session - no mean feat in a 3 metre swell.
- Food: As with swimming, do not go surfing for at least 45 minutes after a meal.
- Fun: Surfing is all about having fun; keep it in mind when you are out in the waves.
- Hold or Throw: Know when to hold on to your surfboard and when to get rid of it. If you are paddling out, then keep hold of your board. You'll get back to the line up more quickly, and you'll not put anyone paddling out behind you at risk. If you are about to wipe out, get rid of your board. You are far more likely to sustain an injury if you and your board are getting washed around together.
- Patrolled Beaches: If you are surfing on a patrolled beach, make sure that you keep within the designated surfing area. Take note of where you should be surfing before you go out, and make sure you stick to it when you are out.
- Priority: Always make sure that you are not taking anyone else's wave. Remember that the surfer who is closest to the breaking wave has priority. If you see someone already on a wave, then the wave is considered to be taken, and you'll have to wait for the next one.
- Practice: If you want to improve then you need to be in the water surfing as regularly as possible. No one gets better at anything by staying home and watching T.V.
- Respect: Respect the locals if you are visiting a beach. Remember that you are a guest and that waves should be shared.
- Rips: If you are caught in a rip, remember that it's called R.I.P. for a reason. You may not make it back to dry land ever again if you get caught in one. Hopefully you already know that a rip is a strong current that (normally) goes straight out to sea and, if caught in one, you should not panic but instead paddle across the rip (not against it) until you have escaped.
- Sun Block: Always wear a good waterproof sunblock. You'll know how important it is if you have been out for a few hours surfing in the sun without it. Also, if you are not wearing a wetsuit, it is a good idea to wear a UV-proof long sleeve rash vest for body protection.
- Surf Buddy: Always surf with at least one other person. Not only will you have more fun if you are sharing your waves, but you'll always have someone to help you out if you need it.
- Surf Conditions: Make sure that the surf is safe before you go in. If you are going surfing at a spot you are unfamiliar with it, is a good idea to get some advice from a local. Check out the surf spot while warming up.
- Warm-up: Always have a quick warm-up and stretch before entering the surf. This will reduce the risk of muscle injury or cramp while you're surfing. It also gives you time to check for any rips or where the best spot to catch waves is.
Oh yeah, don't surf too close to the shore!
Surfing Safely
If you keep this list in mind when you surf, you'll surely enjoy yourself, prevent trouble, and avoid fighting with the locals.
Spanish Version: Las Reglas Básicas para Practicar Surf
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Comments
 | Guest on May 9, 2011 | What about sharks what is the chance that you will get attacked while surfing |
 | surf patrol on May 9, 2011 | It's very very unlikely. Check over on the forum, there are loads of shark topics to put your mind at ease. |
| lancelot on May 19, 2011 | it is possible to be good at surf if you weight is around 180 ? because i want to lose some weight to drop at 170 |
| surf patrol on May 20, 2011 | Hi Lancelot, Sure it's possible, there are plenty of 180lb surfers. Drop to 170 with some surf fitness exercises for double the benefit. |
| Guest on May 22, 2011 | how likely is it to get caught in a rip?? |
| Guest on May 25, 2011 | hey! i weigh about 210 and am thinking of taking up surfing. it is safe for me at this weight to try? |
| Guest on May 26, 2011 | I weigh 100. Am I too light for a longboard? |
| Guest on Jun 1, 2011 | you wouldnt get eatin by a shark |
| Guest on Jun 7, 2011 | I'm going surfing this summer (maybe) and I feel really good about this guide!!!!!! |
| Guest on Jun 7, 2011 | My husband is interested in surfing. We just moved to HI and he did try it yesterday for the first time. He didn't do too bad...is it better to start on a used board or get a new board to start with? Also, should he take a lesson or just go for it? |
| surf patrol on Jun 8, 2011 | Start with a used board, he might find that he doesn't really like it. If he progresses quickly, he may have to upgrade the board to something more suitable. You'll save $$ in the long run. Lessons can be good, and many people get lots out of them. You'll start with surfers of the same standard, and get into some good habits straigth away. Others like to give it a go on their own and see what happens. It's really a matter of personal choice. |
| Guest on Jun 23, 2011 | I love surfing from South Africa,Irie Surf chica's my name.Aloha braddas and sistas;-) |
| Guest on Jun 23, 2011 | ya man !!! come surf on vic bay - South africa , you'll have tha time of your life !!! on my way to coasta rica in october. BOOM . doggy style is tha name. happy surfing |
| Guest on Dec 27, 2011 | I am 14 years old and want to learn how to surf, but am kinda scared about sharks from movies and stories I have read before, what are the chances if you learn to surf off Waikiki Hawaii of shark encounters? |
| nauc on Feb 7, 2012 | does high tide or low tide matter much when choosing when to go out and surf. are the conditions usually better at one of those times, or not thanks |
| surf patrol on Feb 7, 2012 | Hi Nauc, the effect is surf spot dependent. Some spots are better at high, some at low etc. The tide can make a dramatic difference to conditions. |
| nauc on Feb 7, 2012 | ok, thanks |
| Guest on Mar 20, 2012 | how much generally is a used surfboard? |
| Guest on May 14, 2012 | i love surfing :) |
| Guest on Jun 8, 2012 | Surfing is the BEST my favorite thing to do in the whole world!!! Only just started but so addicted an constantly checking surf report! If ur thinking bout it, don't hesitate, DO IT! an don't let a few bad falls an dumps put u off.. Keep at it an u will discover the feeling is magical |
| koala on Sep 9, 2012 | New to surfing and trying to learn in a kinda cove or L think it was high tide and the waves were breaking going in and out like a spout??? any hints i dont get to many chances to surf and i dont have much experience???? :) |
| visitor95010 on Jan 11, 2013 | You should add something to this list on the order of "know who's turn it is." If you don't know whose turn it is, it's probably not yours, and trying to sit deepest usually just means you're ruining waves, and detracting from everybody else's good time -- in other words you're kooking it up. |
| surf patrol on Jan 11, 2013 | See Priority. There's more in depth information in the Etiquette and Priority articles, and lots of topics on the forum if anyone needs further info. |
| visitor95010 on Jan 13, 2013 | Well, I hear you, but learning about whose turn it is, and how not to ruin line-ups by sitting too deep for yourself belongs on a checklist light this one, imo. Beginners don't surf well enough to regard sitting deepest as giving them right of way, because they can't sit deeper than anybody else without just ruining waves all day long by creating chaos in pole position. It doesn't really help them that much to tell them "first up, closest to the curl" gives right of way, because it never applies to them, because they can't sit that deep in a crowd without ruining waves. |
| visitor95010 on Jan 13, 2013 | What I mean: sitting too deep and creating chaos is the #1 mistake beginners make once they learn to stand-up and "go straight" (i.e. go down the line without making any turns, etc.). IMO, it should be on every "basics of etiquette" page, yet it almost never is on any. |
| bob on May 8, 2013 | i love surfing |
| bob on May 8, 2013 | could i die from surfing |
| Guest Jerry So. Cal. on May 24, 2013 | Go to a break with more forgiving waves, wait you turn, try hard, & have fun! Stay out of local's way! Don't get discouraged! You have to paddle as fast as the wave is moving in order to catch it. A wave breaks in half it's depth of water. In other words, a 4 foot wave will break in 2 feet of water. Good luck, & respect others in the ocean! |
| surf patrol on May 24, 2013 | Good advice Jerry. |