The Unwritten Rules of Surfing
Neal Miyake
Direct link with supporting pics:
http://www.aroundhawaii.com/leisure/reviews/neal_miyake/2003-10_turosurfing.htm
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
Timothy B. Maddux
Neal Miyake <spo...@iav.com> wrote:
>By forcing people to follow rigid rules,
>we may actually be ruining part of the individual
>aspect of surfing.
The general rule I follow is "stay out of the
way." All the other rules follow from it. And
by having some rules, we avoid anarchy. The
trick is not to turn into surfing communists.
>It all boils down to respect, safety and common courtesy.
That's even better than my rule.
>... no dress codes...
You're just saying that so you can keep wearing
zinka, bunhuggers, and paddle gloves.
--
.-``'. Tim Maddux
.` .`~ "From the essence of pure stoke
_.-' '._ springs all creation."
Gleshna
>cardinal sin - they just don't know any better.
>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.
>
I would suggest the following:
Guideline #1:
"Beginners are encouraged to learn to surf by taking off on the white water or
soup on the inside at low tide."
Guideline #2:
"When learning to ride waves outside do not take off on the shoulder of a wave
unless you are the only surfer in the water. Until you know what the
"shoulder" and "outside" are, please, stay with guideline #1.
Gleshna
I give wave priority to U.S. Marines. It's my way of saying, "Thank you."
Gleshna
>few people sharing a lineup, a common unspoken practice in Hawaii is
>for waveriders to get into a rotation and share waves.
Huh? Okay, what if there are not a few people in the water? There's an
alternative?
>To reiterate, surfing is not like golf (thankfully!). There are no tee
>times,
....YET.
XPEH
mothaphukers ... my wave is my wave, your wave ... well, theoretically it is
your wave (according to some whiny rule), but in practice ... it is really
my wave :)))
to best illustrate the point i wrote a little poem for you all my fan(s)
i'm a surfer
i'm a man
i'm a woman
i'm a fan
i'm the one to take my wave
i'm the one to misbehave
i'm a smoker and a flake
on your wave ... I AM A SNAKE!
(c) XPEH 2003 -
"Neal Miyake" <spo...@iav.com> wrote in message
news:3fa1168b.03100...@posting.google.com...
DMan
> in surfing there is only one rule ... its me against all of yous
> mothaphukers ... my wave is my wave, your wave ... well, theoretically it is
> your wave (according to some whiny rule), but in practice ... it is really
> my wave :)))
>
> to best illustrate the point i wrote a little poem for you all my fan(s)
>
> i'm a surfer
> i'm a man
> i'm a woman
> i'm a fan
>
> i'm the one to take my wave
> i'm the one to misbehave
> i'm a smoker and a flake
> on your wave ... I AM A SNAKE!
>
> (c) XPEH 2003 -
>
XPEH
about me
"DMan" <jdmc...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:df40cab1.03100...@posting.google.com...
Gleshna
>This post hereby nominated for post of the year.
>
>And for the hub poetry page.
>
>-PA
>
I second the second.
Jas
through the generations of surfers--this took place in california in
the late 60's
http://www.windanseabeach.com/law1/learnrules.html
--jas
Mordwid
Awe F'shore
"XPEH" <XP...@WHO.COM?> wrote in message news:5wYeb.5550$La.228@fed1read02...
> yes, and i would like to send special thanks to The Kinks for writing a song
> about me
Kinks?
sounds more like "Sex" by Berlin
lyrics
Feel the fire, feel my love inside you, it's so right
There's the sound and the smell of love in my mind
I'm a toy, come and play with me, Say the word now
Wrap your legs around mine and ride me tonight..
I'm a man-I'm a goddess
I'm a man-Well I'm a virgin
I'm a man-I'm a blue movie
I'm a man-I'm a bitch
I'm a man-I'm a geisha
I'm a man-I'm a little girl
And we make love together
Slip and slide in your wet delight, feel the blood flow
Not too fast, don't be slow, my love's in your hands
I'm a man-I'm a boy
I'm a man-Well I'm your mother
I'm a man-I'm a one night stand
I'm a man-Am I bi
I'm a man-I'm your slave
I'm a man-I'm a little girl
And we make love together
Skin to skin, tongue to oooh, come on honey hold tight
Come inside, it's a passion play just for you
Let's get lost in that magic place, all alone now
Drink your fill from my fountain of love, with your lips
I'm a man-I'm a teaser
I'm a man-Well I'm a virgin
I'm a man-I'm a one night stand
I'm a man-I'm a drug
I'm a man-Well I'm your slave
I'm a man-I'm a dream divine
And we make love together
I'm a man-I'm a goddess
I'm a man-I'm a hooker
I'm a man-I'm a blue movie
I'm a man-I'm a slut
I'm a man-I'm your babe
I'm a man-I'm a dream divine
And we make love together
And we'll make love forever.....
DMan
> "XPEH" <XP...@WHO.COM?> wrote in message news:5wYeb.5550$La.228@fed1read02...
> > yes, and i would like to send special thanks to The Kinks for writing a song
> > about me
>
> Kinks?
> sounds more like "Sex" by Berlin
>
That's not Irving Berlin is it?
XPEH
"DMan" <jdmc...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:df40cab1.03100...@posting.google.com...
Neal Miyake
> Neal Miyake <spo...@iav.com> wrote: <snip>
> >... no dress codes...
>
> You're just saying that so you can keep wearing
> zinka, bunhuggers, and paddle gloves.
You got a problem with that?
http://www.iav.com/~sponge/sesh/new/images/pantsed2.jpg
:-)
sponge
www.hisurfadvisory.com
Neal Miyake
Good story. Wonder if the old guy was Andrews? ;-)
sponge
Neal Miyake
> >
> >This post hereby nominated for post of the year.
> >
> >And for the hub poetry page.
> >
> >-PA
> >
>
> I second the second.
Dave. I am one of the Microsoft/Google minions. Would love to see
your original post.
sponge
www.hisurfadvisory.com
Poetry?
Foon
>> You're just saying that so you can keep wearing
>> zinka, bunhuggers, and paddle gloves.
>
>You got a problem with that?
>http://www.iav.com/~sponge/sesh/new/images/pantsed2.jpg
>
>:-)
Very stylish, mine don't look that good =:b Do you ever lay flat on your board?
:)
-Foon
SKIPPER
> sponge
> www.hisurfadvisory.com
> Poetry?
The poem was by XPEH
----------------
i'm a surfer
i'm a man
i'm a woman
i'm a fan
i'm the one to take my wave
i'm the one to misbehave
i'm a smoker and a flake
on your wave ... I AM A SNAKE!
(c) XPEH 2003 -
-PA