Wave Priority
13 commentsWave priority is all about ensuring peace and tranquility in the surf, and knowing all about surf etiquette. If you read the following information on this page and don't understand it, then go and ask someone else. Keep asking until you know. If you meet a fellow surfer who doesn't know, then tell them! If we all stick to the rules, then we'll all be happy little surfers!
Your Wave or My Wave?
The different types of waves and how they break are described in the next section about peeling waves, so if you don't understand any of the naming go and have a look there. Here we'll concern ourselves with who has the right to be on a wave. Before continuing, we would just say that you should make sure that you're not selfish when you surf. Waves should be shared. The locals who surf a spot every day should not have to fight tooth and nail for every wave against incoming surfers, and locals should let incoming surfers have waves as well. It's all about sharing! However, who has the right-of-way?
Priority on the Wave
Basically, the surfer who is closest to the breaking part of the wave has priority. If a surfer is up and riding a wave, then it's that surfer's wave. This is most easily explained with a diagram. Let's make it into a little quiz. Who has right-of-way? Is it surfer A, B, C, or D?
Wave Priority
If you think surfer A has priority, click answer A
If you think surfer B has priority, click answer B
If you think surfer C has priority, click answer C
If you think surfer D has priority, click answer D
If you think none of the above, cannot be bothered to click, or just don't think, then read on.
Whose Wave is it Anyway?
OK, so it's surfer D. Why? It's because surfer D is closest to the breaking wave. It's as simple as that! If surfer D does not get the wave, then it's up to surfer C and so on. The person who is furthest out and has waited the longest for the wave should be the one to get the wave; he has priority.
If two surfers are going for the same wave and it is not clear who has the inside, then it is down to who is on their feet first. (This is really the only case of first come first served.)
If you're surfing a wave that is peaking with both a left and a right, then communication is the key. If you're going to go left, then let the other guy know. A nice loud "Left!" should get everyone's attention! There is no reason that two people should surf the same wave in this case.
Quick Wave Priority Recap
- Furthest out: the surfer that is furthest out or that has been waiting longest
- Furthest inside: the closest surfer to the peak of the breaking wave
- First to feet: the first to feet or first onto the wave
- Communication: the call of "Left!" or "Right!" if the wave is dual-peaking
Remember to always play nicely kiddies!
like surfing and kitesurfing windsurfing also
Are the priorities listed above in order? I ask because today (a smaller day) I brought my longboard out. I was up and surfing a wave when a guy on a short board paddled in (after I had stood up). I had no issues with it, and just kept on going as he surfed behind me. After the wave closed out, he yelled at me not to do that again. Perplexed, I let him know I was up and surfing the wave long before he was paddling into it. He ignored me after that but I wanted to make sure to get clarification for future encounters.
some people are just a**holes. pretty sure you had the right of way.
Must be more to the story.....longboarders get up earlier on a wave and sit outside of the shortboard lineups.....could be that he'd been waiting for awhile and was next up in his way of seeing things and you snaked the wave by virtue of being able to catch it outside......
Or he was just a jerk......
i myself surf a 5.10 and i do get pretty annoyed by longboarders because theyntake every wave catcheble but as long as they have priority like you did i can say anything
What about someone dropping in deep, driving through the foam and getting to the shoulder? They're not in position to catch the wave at the right spot, but they technically fit all of the above criterion for having priority.
Just to clarify as well. When I (a prone rider) am up an planing then a shortboarder does not get to snake and call me a drop in. It doesn't matter if you're closest to the pocket if you are sat way inside.
While I was paddling out to the waves I have gotten run over by a surfer then yelled at for obstructing his "wave" yet due to rocks the paddle out area is limited to where I was. Who was at fault and would should be done?
You are at fault. If someone is on a wave don’t paddle to the shoulder and get in their way. Just duck dive the wave.
It would be great if someone could answer the question from Aug 29, 2011. If the rule about being inside and the rule about being on your feet first come into conflict, which of these rules has priority?
The general rule is the surfer who is on the inside or standing first has priority. That being said, when a long boarder is sitting outside and picking off every wave, he is not following etiquette and will create unneeded tension in the line up. Bottom line is that everyone should use common courtesy. If you are long boarding and sitting further outside, by all means take your share of waves, but be aware of the short boards, be courteous and don’t be a f@&$)&@ #%$&!
yep there is definitely a problem with the rule 1. closest to the peak (inside priority)and
2. whos on their feet/riding first
I was riding my 7'6 and was sitting very far out the back was up and riding at least 10s with no one else on the wave when I got to the line of shortboarders and this guy pops up on the inside speeds up and then tries to overtake me, in which has now resulted in a collision and $140 worth of board repairs for myself, hope his board took a beating too. even if the 'inside' rule trumps the whos riding / on their feet first you should never ever try without warning cut in front of someone, either yell oi or suck it up and stay behind them, dangerous and stupid.
Getting to your feet first trumps closest to the peak. If you've caught the wave and are standing without anyone else on the wave, accelerate out on to the face of the wave so you can cut back, only to find someone has now caught the wave behind you and closest to the breaking wave... stay on your wave! That dude should have seen you, but it happens a lot and I've seen guys in that first position hop off the wave as a sign if giving priority. But it's wrong to give another surfer the wave if you're already riding it and they decide to join behind you. Since this rule applies, there is no time limit to how long you're on the wave before you can claim it. Having said that, however, if two surfers are catching the same wave and the one furthest from the peak jumps up a millisecond before the guy who has priority, the wave should be given to the guy (or girl!) closest to the peak. Though I've seen that happen a lot in Dan Diego, and the dude tears off on the wave, collapsing it for the guy behind him.
In general, share the waves as best as possible, with those who deserve it.