Direct link with supporting pics:
http://www.aroundhawaii.com/leisure/reviews/neal_miyake/2003-10_turos...

The Unwritten Rules of Surfing

by Neal Miyake

Recently, I saw a newspaper article about the unwritten rules of golf
(http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Sep/18/sp/sp07a.html).
This cracked me up because in the world of surfing (recreational
surfing, that is), *all* the rules are unwritten.

Most beginners are blissfully unaware that dropping in on someone is a
cardinal sin - they just don't know any better. However, a grumpy
surfer may take this breach of etiquette as a huge insult, and may
want to "throw blows" because of it. This is not a good thing.

I've heard suggestions that all wave riding vehicles should be sold
with a basic list of rules on how people should handle themselves in a
lineup. On the surface, it sounds like a good idea, but I'm not
convinced it is the right approach.

A point can be made that it is better that we don't have hard and fast
rules in surfing. The whole modern surfing era revolved around an
anti-establishment mentality as people sought an outlet to break away
from the structured society. By forcing people to follow rigid rules,
we may actually be ruining part of the individual aspect of surfing.
Of course, surfing has since become so ingrained into current pop that
it doesn't have the same counterculture status it once had, but I
digress.

In contrast, by paying your dues, learning as you go, you can build a
sense of accomplishment and respect that actually is a part of the
overall allure. Knowing what to do and when to do it is satisfying and
expresses to others that you are indeed a part of the surfing tribe.

The rules themselves can also be quite fluid (no pun intended), given
different situations and locales. For instance, if there are just a
few people sharing a lineup, a common unspoken practice in Hawaii is
for waveriders to get into a rotation and share waves.

So what are some of these "unwritten" rules? Well, one of the best
compilations that I've seen was featured in Nat Young's book Surf Rage
(http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/stuff/surfrage.htm). There's a photo of
a plaque entitled "Tribal Law: Surfriders Code of Ethics," which
succinctly describes surf etiquette guidelines complete with
representative cartoon drawings. It was written in 1997 by Robert
Conneeley, and was put up at Margaret River, Western Australia.

If you can't read the graphic, here are the words:

Tribal Law: Surfriders Code of Ethics
Right of way: Furthest out (or waiting longest), Furthest inside
(closest to peak), First to feet or on wave, Call: communicate (left
or right)
Do not drop in or snake
Paddle wide using rip
Caught inside, stay in the whitewater
Danger: Do not throw board (in danger of others)
Respect the beach, the ocean and others
Give respect to gain respect
We are very lucky to be surfers - share the water

The right of way issue is not as straightforward as it seems. For
instance, a rider on a thick longboard could easily dominate amongst a
gaggle of shortboarders by sitting outside and deep and standing up
earlier. Breaks that have multiple peaks breaking in both directions
add much more complexity to the issue. Even rider skill and local
status is typically factored in somewhere.

Despite all this, the Code of Ethics is a great guideline that most
lineups throughout the world would appreciate if people followed. It
all boils down to respect, safety and common courtesy.

To reiterate, surfing is not like golf (thankfully!). There are no tee
times, no dress codes, no equipment restriction, no green fees, no
handicap, no mulligans, and especially no established written rules to
follow. But there are basic human ethics that should be observed, not
just in surfing, but also in life.

Stay stoked!
Neal Miyake