10 Rules to Travel and Surf By…
- Pick the right surfing spots for your ability and attitude. We need to be honest with ourselves about our ability, and our intentions.
- Don’t drop in on or snake your fellow surfer. In other words, do not catch a wave once another surfer has claimed it by being in a deeper or more effective position at takeoff.
- When paddling out to or within a break it’s your responsibility to stay out of the way of riders on waves. Once a rider has selected and caught a wave, all other surfers should do their best not to interfere with his or her enjoyment of the wave.
- Learn to take turns. We all want it for ourselves. But we’re not alone, which means sharing the wave-catching opportunities. Give someone a wave–and help to create a positive vibe in the lineup.
- In any surf session, respect the pre-existing vibe in the lineup. This holds true no matter your status, equipment or ability level. Take your time and let a few waves go by to ease into the rotation and the mindset of the other surfers.
- Always aid another surfer in trouble. But don’t put yourself in a situation over your head. Two surfers in need of help are in much worse a state than one.
- When traveling, always respect the local surfers and their rights and customs, without forfeiting your own right to a wave. Take your time. Avoid traveling in large numbers and try to time your sessions when the crowd may lighten up. Let the locals set the pace.
- Do not use your surfing advantages to abuse fellow surfers. This includes advantages such as surfboard length, surfing fitness and skill, local knowledge and authority, and (lamest of all) physical aggression and strength.
- At all times be responsible for your equipment and respectful of others’. If it’s ignored or treated as something other than a wave-riding craft, a surfboard can be damaged—or do severe damage to other boards and people.
- Relax and enjoy your surfing and that of your fellow surfer. The presence of others in the water is an ongoing fact of life in lineups worldwide. Accepting this is the key to a healthy, flexible attitude in the water. More than anything else, crowd tensions in the surf can be eased by our individual ability to flow through situations and react positively when it’s needed. Above all else, smile…
For the complete Bill of Rights and Lefts, go to surfline.com/surfology
