Surfing Rules
- Alcohol and Drugs. Surfing ‘Under the influence’ is downright dangersous. Save the drinking for after the surf session.
- Awareness of fellow surfers and other water users. Awareness of the surf conditions, and of just where you are. Also, be aware of rip currents. Also, other water-borne vessels.
- Feel comfortable. You should surf in waves that you are comfortable in. Progress slowly.
- Fitness. Make sure you are physically fit enough to surf. You need to be able to swim back to shore if you lose your board at the end of an exhausting session. This can be an exhausting task in both a big or small swell. Are you prepared for such a happening?
- Food and Drinks. As with swimming, do not go surfing for at least 45 minutes after a meal.
- Fun. Surfing is all about having fun. Remember why you are out in the waves. Follow the rules in surfing and fun can be had by all.
- Hold or Throw. Know when to hold onto your surfboard and when to release it. If you are paddling out, then keep hold of your board. You’ll get out back to the line-up more quickly, and you will not put anyone paddling out behind you at risk. If you are about to wipe-out then stay away from your board. You are far more likely to occur an injury if you and your board are getting washed around together.
- Patrolled Beaches. If you are surfing on a patrolled beach, make sure that you keep within the designated surfing area. Stay out of patrolled areas, and always keep an open eye on where you are. Surfing a softboard is accepted in flagged areas.
- Priority, inside position. Always make sure that you are not taking or spoiling anyone else’s wave. Remember, the surfer who is closest to the breaking wave has priority. If you see someone already on a wave, then the wave is taken, and you’ll have to wait for your turn for the next one.
- Practice makes perfect. If you want to improve your surfing, then you need to be in the water surfing as much as possible. The golden rule is practice
- Respect the locals if you are visiting a beach. Always remember that you are a guest and that waves should be shared.
- Rips. If you are caught in a rip, remember that it’s called R.I.P. for a reason, and you may not make it back to dry land ever again. Hopefully you already know that a rip is a strong current that (normally) goes straight out to sea, and if caught in one, that you should not panic. Paddle across the rip (not against it) until you have escaped it power. See the section on Rip Currents.
- Sun screen. Always wear a good waterproof sunblock. The sun can be very dangerous even on cloudy days. Also, if you are not wearing a wetsuit, it is a good idea to wear a UV-proof rash vest for body protection.
- Surf Buddy. Always surf with at least one other person. Surfing with a friend brings great enjoyment, and you may never know when you will need a helping hand.
- Surfing conditions. Make sure that the surf is safe before you go in. If you are going surfing at a spot you are unfamiliar with, it is a good idea to get some advice from a local. Observe the break for a while before entering. Warm-up
- Always have a warm-up and stretch before entering the ocean surf. This will reduce the risk of muscle injury or cramp whilst you are surfing. It also gives you time to check for any rips and where the best spots to catch waves are.