So, let’s walk through the process of arriving at a brand-new break we’ve never surfed before. There are locals out, and we want to respect them while also catching waves. What should we do?
There are a few key things to keep in mind. Obviously, everyone wants to paddle out with respect and be friendly, but actually putting that into practice can be tricky.
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A Common Experience:
We just pulled into a spot with a well-known wave that we’ve heard is fun! We’re stoked and frothing to get out there. As soon as the anchor is down, we throw our boards in the dinghy and head out. Paddling out, we make our way to the end of the lineup and prepare to wait our turn, as we always do. We smile whenever someone glances our way, moving up the lineup. We’re about halfway there when a local catches a wave. We watch them closely, taking mental notes on how they surf it—after all, we’ve never been here before, and we want to understand the break.
As they come off the wave, I turn back to the lineup, scanning for the next set. Suddenly, I notice the same guy paddling straight back to the head of the lineup, inside everyone else, back to his spot with the other locals. At this point, I try not to get frustrated and cut them some slack—maybe they’ve had bad experiences with disrespectful tourists before.
We eventually make it to the head of the lineup, sitting just behind the locals, waiting for the next set. But when it comes, they paddle straight out and catch all the set waves, leaving me at the front of the lineup wondering why I didn’t get one. At least I’m in a good position now, right? I sit there, waiting for the next set to roll through, scanning the lineup for the rest of the family and smiling at those sitting closest to me.
Then I see the local guys paddling back out—inside everyone—just like before. They do it strategically, making it slightly less obvious. Looking back out, I hope a set is coming before they return to my spot. Come on, there has to be one! But no, the locals reach the peak just inside of me. Maybe they’ll let me have the next one?
Ah! I see a set. Paddling out a bit, I get ready and start to go—only to look up and see a local on the wave. No! Out of respect, I have to let them have it. I won’t drop in, even though I was technically at the head of the lineup. Spinning around, I scan for another wave, but it’s too big, and I’m too far inside to catch it. As I paddle back out, another local snags it. I duck dive and come up just in time to see another wave approaching. It’s smaller, but at this point, I’ll take anything. I spin, paddle hard, and finally get on it. But as I stand up, I realize this wave isn’t big enough to do anything… and now I’m back at the end of the lineup.
Sound familiar? Yeah, this situation sucks. And for the three days we stayed there, it didn’t improve. Every session started with hope and ended in frustration. But don’t worry—this was one of my worst experiences. Most breaks we travel to are the opposite! Usually, locals welcome you with huge smiles, try to chat in their broken English, let you catch waves, and turn out to be the friendliest surfers you’ve ever met. That’s what we find at most breaks!
How to Be Respectful, Friendly, and Have Fun at Any Break
Tip One: Smile!
This might sound too simple, but trust me—it’s one of the most important things you can do. When you’re sitting in a lineup and someone paddles out with a serious look, avoiding eye contact and ignoring friendly gestures, it just feels off. So, always smile, especially when arriving at a new break where you don’t know anyone.
Tip Two: Positioning – The ‘Cheeky-Yet-Respectful’ Approach
I like to go for what I call the ‘Cheeky-Yet-Respectful’ approach. This means sitting in your designated spot in the lineup while staying alert. Keep moving. Even if someone further up is paddling for a wave, always look—sometimes they miss it, and you’ll be in the perfect position to go! Stay respectful, keep your eyes open, and look for cheeky opportunities to score waves.
Tip Three: Learn the Break—Fast!
Obviously, if you’re surfing a new spot, you want to figure it out as quickly as possible. My hot tips:
- Watch the locals.
- See where they sit and how they surf the wave.
- Observe where they kick out—there could be a shallow section or a reef you don’t know about.
- The more you pay attention, the faster you’ll understand the break.
Tip Four: Make Friends
Make friends with those already in the lineup! Smile, say hi (or at least try to), and even let them have a wave if you can. This shows you’re friendly, and they’ll likely be nicer in return. Plus, it just makes your whole experience better!
Tip Five: Have Fun!
I had to add this one because sometimes we forget that we surf to have fun (talking to myself here!). It’s easy to slip into an unfriendly, frustrated, this-isn’t-fun-anymore mode—and that’s not fun for you or anyone else. Even if the locals aren’t playing fair, keep things in perspective.
A fun game I like to play sometimes is ‘Sweet or Sour’ – but with surfers!
It’s a fun way to gauge the vibe of the lineup—and it helps you keep smiling!
- It’s super simple: as you paddle back out or sit in the lineup, smile at people.
- If they smile back, they’re ‘Sweet.’
- If they don’t, they’re ‘Sour.’
Final Thoughts
These are some of the ways I try to stay respectful and friendly at surf breaks. Another good practice is checking the surf forecast to make sure you know what to expect, I usually use Windy and Surfline.
I’d love to hear your tips or fun little games that help you enjoy your sessions. Drop them in the comments and share your experiences!
(all images from Pexels)