Here is a small refresher for those of you who have forgotten or simply never knew these rules exist.
As someone who regularly stand up paddle surfs around Cottesloe WA (for anyone that doesn't know the waves here are small, weak and overcrowded) I am constantly amazed by how many sup surfers have total blatant disregard for the timeless rules that help to ensure everyone in the lineup has a good time.

People please please try and show some respect for other water users. The behaviour of a few reflects very badly on stand up paddlers as a whole and contributes to a very negative vibe in the water.

I am not claiming to be perfect everyone accidentally (and sometimes purposely) slips up and prone surfers of all sorts certainly aren't perfect either but having sups come through and consistently show complete disregard for any form of order in the lineup is just going to hurt our sport in the long run.

the local council at noosa put signs in the carpark similar to the ones you have posted and I must say for the amount of people surfing the points it was rather well organised the locals still get most of the good ones but thats cool.I was actualy quite suprised by the lack of droping in every time I've been there.I dont know if it has anything to do with the signs though.

There was a whole movement around this back in the late 90s as I recall. I've got one of Rosscoe Kermode's original print signs which make it pretty obvious what the right thing to do is. I think they need to be far more widely available and that they should be part of the package with any shop board purchase or lesson.

i am particularly struck by the middle aged learners with no schooling in surf rules. Though I wouldn't necessarily advocate for the grommet abuse we went through to earn our stripes. while the water was a lot less cluttered back then, it was also a lot more orderly, and ability was rewarded with the best waves rather than board length.....

Select to expand quote

JacobMatan said..









Here is a small refresher for those of you who have forgotten or simply never knew these rules exist.
As someone who regularly stand up paddle surfs around Cottesloe WA (for anyone that doesn't know the waves here are small, weak and overcrowded) I am constantly amazed by how many sup surfers have total blatant disregard for the timeless rules that help to ensure everyone in the lineup has a good time.

People please please try and show some respect for other water users. The behaviour of a few reflects very badly on stand up paddlers as a whole and contributes to a very negative vibe in the water.

I am not claiming to be perfect everyone accidentally (and sometimes purposely) slips up and prone surfers of all sorts certainly aren't perfect either but having sups come through and consistently show complete disregard for any form of order in the lineup is just going to hurt our sport in the long run.

I don't know that the SUP riders are any worse than anyone else. Plenty of people on all sorts of craft dropping in, snaking, jumping on the back of someone else's wave and so on. Agree surf etiquette should be displayed and understood but why point the finger more particularly at stand up paddleboarders. Yes some of them are wave hogs, but so are some shortboarders, longboarders and so on. Don't get me started on the kids on the clubbies!
One other thing with your posters there. The most common offence isn't even mentioned. I'm happy to share waves if there is no danger (lots won't) but when I catch a wave out the back, whether I'm on my longboard or sup, people sitting half way in will jump on the inside reform of it and then call me off. Up and riding has first priority.

Hi yes Mickmc, I am pointing the finger at my fellow stand up paddle boarders because i see them breaking the rules so often and so blatantly, whilst the prone surfers are not short of a drop in either we as paddle boarders are the new kids on the block and should show some respect in order to gain some respect. Just as tang said I am shocked by the abundance of middle aged learner sups who either don't know these rules exist or just don't give a ****. Anyone who has surfed for a reasonable amount of time can see that these people are disregarding the rules, creating a bad vibe in the lineup, causing havoc and endangering others yet so often the perpetrators seem completely oblivious to it and often wonder why they have been dropped in on or why the prone surfers are so aggro. My favourite is the drop in and fall off leaving the board to slam into the person who's wave it actually was in the first place.

and I totally agree with you, if you have caught the wave out the back and someone is trying to sneak onto it on the reform they are dropping in on you whether or not they are on the inside.

Select to expand quote

JacobMatan said..
Hi yes Mickmc, I am pointing the finger at my fellow stand up paddle boarders because i see them breaking the rules so often and so blatantly, whilst the prone surfers are not short of a drop in either we as paddle boarders are the new kids on the block and should show some respect in order to gain some respect. Just as tang said I am shocked by the abundance of middle aged learner sups who either don't know these rules exist or just don't give a ****. Anyone who has surfed for a reasonable amount of time can see that these people are disregarding the rules, creating a bad vibe in the lineup, causing havoc and endangering others yet so often the perpetrators seem completely oblivious to it and often wonder why they have been dropped in on or why the prone surfers are so aggro. My favourite is the drop in and fall off leaving the board to slam into the person who's wave it actually was in the first place.

and I totally agree with you, if you have caught the wave out the back and someone is trying to sneak onto it on the reform they are dropping in on you whether or not they are on the inside.

Exactly, that move is called a "reverse snake", and it doesn't even have to be on a reformed wave, but can be on a new wave as well.
You catch the wave early, easily done on a SUP board, before it breaks, and somebody just on the inside of you turns and catches it between you and the peak (he's the second up), that's a reverse snake. A snake is a snake, and needs to be treated as one, as in turning back towards the peak and forcing the snake into the whitewater, or to straighten out, or into the rocks if there are any, my personal favorite.

Select to expand quote

Mastbender said..

JacobMatan said..
Hi yes Mickmc, I am pointing the finger at my fellow stand up paddle boarders because i see them breaking the rules so often and so blatantly, whilst the prone surfers are not short of a drop in either we as paddle boarders are the new kids on the block and should show some respect in order to gain some respect. Just as tang said I am shocked by the abundance of middle aged learner sups who either don't know these rules exist or just don't give a ****. Anyone who has surfed for a reasonable amount of time can see that these people are disregarding the rules, creating a bad vibe in the lineup, causing havoc and endangering others yet so often the perpetrators seem completely oblivious to it and often wonder why they have been dropped in on or why the prone surfers are so aggro. My favourite is the drop in and fall off leaving the board to slam into the person who's wave it actually was in the first place.

and I totally agree with you, if you have caught the wave out the back and someone is trying to sneak onto it on the reform they are dropping in on you whether or not they are on the inside.

Exactly, that move is called a "reverse snake", and it doesn't even have to be on a reformed wave, but can be on a new wave as well.
You catch the wave early, easily done on a SUP board, before it breaks, and somebody just on the inside of you turns and catches it between you and the peak (he's the second up), that's a reverse snake. A snake is a snake, and needs to be treated as one, as in turning back towards the peak and forcing the snake into the whitewater, or to straighten out, or into the rocks if there are any, my personal favorite.

In an established line up with short boarders if you continually paddle out past the line up and take waves way out the back you can also be called out as a snake and may lead to the situation described above.

It's poor form regardless of what you ride to catch a wave out the back and then paddle straight back out to the peak and take the next wave, regardless of who's right or wrong it creates a bad vibe and that's when things get nasty.

Catch a wave then paddle back out to the back end of the line up have chat with someone or whatever, let a few sets go through then move up the line up as it thins, if you show respect you will receive it.

How about some more written rules like have respect for old grey bastards who you might not realise have been surfing the said beach for at least 35 years. This applies even if they might be riding a SUP, albeit better than most advanced prone shortboarders?

I had a bad experience last week with some twenty or so year old blow in chick who though she would look cool and get support picking on the SUP rider (me!). I have always had the utmost respect for female surfers even having done things like bring in vegetarian stews for the likes of Pauline Menczer and her mates back in the 90's at the Surfest professional comp ran at the same beach.

Before the ignorant foreign accented loudmouth paddled out I was bobbing around talking to a more than polite young lady about which SUPs would suit her.

Select to expand quote

JacobMatan said..

regularly stand up paddle surfs around Cottesloe WA (for anyone that doesn't know the waves here are small, weak and overcrowded) I am constantly amazed

Why? it has been a circus long before SUPs got there.

Not sure you can ever educate all the shortboarders, longboarders, ski paddlers, SUPs, etc who at 40 decide it is a great idea to learn to surf. As at other popular spots along the coast signs may help.

When the seabreeze is blowing, who has right of way?
The surfer in the photo is a serial snaker. He hates windsurfers and insists on surfing when we are out enjoying the wind. Clearly not the best conditions for surfing.
I'd be sailing in on a swell setting up for the wave to peak and he will drop in on you. A quick bottom turn around him and a nice rio in front off him just gets him pissed off hahaha.

Select to expand quote

goofy said..



In an established line up with short boarders if you continually paddle out past the line up and take waves way out the back you can also be called out as a snake and may lead to the situation described above.

It's poor form regardless of what you ride to catch a wave out the back and then paddle straight back out to the peak and take the next wave, regardless of who's right or wrong it creates a bad vibe and that's when things get nasty.

Catch a wave then paddle back out to the back end of the line up have chat with someone or whatever, let a few sets go through then move up the line up as it thins, if you show respect you will receive it.

Spot on.
This is the #1 offence I see at our local.

Select to expand quote

JoffaDan said..

goofy said..



In an established line up with short boarders if you continually paddle out past the line up and take waves way out the back you can also be called out as a snake and may lead to the situation described above.

It's poor form regardless of what you ride to catch a wave out the back and then paddle straight back out to the peak and take the next wave, regardless of who's right or wrong it creates a bad vibe and that's when things get nasty.

Catch a wave then paddle back out to the back end of the line up have chat with someone or whatever, let a few sets go through then move up the line up as it thins, if you show respect you will receive it.

Spot on.
This is the #1 offence I see at our local.

It pisses off longboarders who have been doing it for years

The better shortboarders do it to shortboarders as well. Try waiting your turn at Jakes see if you get one

Select to expand quote

hilly said...

JoffaDan said..

goofy said..



In an established line up with short boarders if you continually paddle out past the line up and take waves way out the back you can also be called out as a snake and may lead to the situation described above.

It's poor form regardless of what you ride to catch a wave out the back and then paddle straight back out to the peak and take the next wave, regardless of who's right or wrong it creates a bad vibe and that's when things get nasty.

Catch a wave then paddle back out to the back end of the line up have chat with someone or whatever, let a few sets go through then move up the line up as it thins, if you show respect you will receive it.

Spot on.
This is the #1 offence I see at our local.

It pisses off longboarders who have been doing it for years

that makes it alright then..

Hello did someone say Longboarders

I'm with Hilly - I quite enjoy giving some of the mal riders a bit of friendly curry. They've been paddling straight back out and into the next one for a long time, and they tend to get a bit tetchy if a sup does the same thing. Or acts like they might.

Sups and mals are both too often guilty of the reverse snake. If you're going to take off further out, it shouldnt be on the shoulder, it should be on the peak. That way you can't get snaked and if you take your turn everyones cool.

my personal favourite is the mal rider or sup who misses the first wave of the set and thinks they're entitled to the next one. End of the line, maaaaate!

And then there's this, w/o respect, things can get dangerous.

We have the festival of surf at my spot this morning, believe there are no rules.

The problem as I see it is that contests promote the "No Rules" Mantra.

Surfing Australia's Motto should be " SHARE THE WAVES "in a crowded ocean

Select to expand quote

Tang said..
I'm with Hilly - I quite enjoy giving some of the mal riders a bit of friendly curry. They've been paddling straight back out and into the next one for a long time, and they tend to get a bit tetchy if a sup does the same thing. Or acts like they might.

Sups and mals are both too often guilty of the reverse snake. If you're going to take off further out, it shouldnt be on the shoulder, it should be on the peak. That way you can't get snaked and if you take your turn everyones cool.

my personal favourite is the mal rider or sup who misses the first wave of the set and thinks they're entitled to the next one. End of the line, maaaaate!

Yep, take another ticket.

Select to expand quote

Greenroom said..
When the seabreeze is blowing, who has right of way?

I was under the impression wind always gives way to paddle.

Select to expand quote

Greenroom said..
I'd be sailing in on a swell setting up for the wave to peak and he will drop in on you.

Well under those circumstances he doesn't have much choice does he. He can't pick up a swell like a wind powered craft can.

Funny thread. Check the last page of the shortboard daily surf report thread for more funny drop-in images.

Select to expand quote

Mastbender said..




And then there's this, w/o respect, things can get dangerous.

Surely in this case the rules of sailing apply? in which case the Kitesurfer being the windward vessel must give way... unless of course the windsurfer is overtaking... then he must keep clear...

Exactly. I've been surfing and windsurfing since I was 12. Now at 57 I get tired of being tarred with the same brush that seems to apply to all sup, just because you are one. I've had flack before I've even had my board of the car. In general conversation I've heard, your not a bloody sup are you, or as for bloody sup, when they don't even know you ride one.
Now I know for sure that this is completely warranted in many cases, but direct it to the individual that needs it, not someone they don't even know.
It's a sad state of affairs as happened with me the other day when some grome abuses you for a situation that they don't even realize they created themselves

Select to expand quote

chucktheskiffie said..

Mastbender said..




And then there's this, w/o respect, things can get dangerous.

Surely in this case the rules of sailing apply? in which case the Kitesurfer being the windward vessel must give way... unless of course the windsurfer is overtaking... then he must keep clear...

Maybe we need the footage - its probably the usual scenario where the kiteboarder turned on the wave face and snaked the windsurfer that was already on the wave

Those kite boarders are a devious bunch - you should never trust them

Select to expand quote

rodriguez said..

Tang said..
I'm with Hilly - I quite enjoy giving some of the mal riders a bit of friendly curry. They've been paddling straight back out and into the next one for a long time, and they tend to get a bit tetchy if a sup does the same thing. Or acts like they might.

Sups and mals are both too often guilty of the reverse snake. If you're going to take off further out, it shouldnt be on the shoulder, it should be on the peak. That way you can't get snaked and if you take your turn everyones cool.

my personal favourite is the mal rider or sup who misses the first wave of the set and thinks they're entitled to the next one. End of the line, maaaaate!

Yep, take another ticket.

The worst one happened this morning.

4 out for the early, we all surf together all the time. 2 on the outer peak and me and my buddy on the inside peak. My buddy catches a wave, one of the outer guys catches a wave which dribbles out inside me. My set wave appears and the outer guy who just caught the wave but has the inside, paddles into the wave I have been waiting for.

4 out for the early, I was the only SUP.

What I think is happening, well in this case, the guy snaked me used to surf when he was a youth. Gave up surfing when he got married and had kids. He is now back into surfing and has picked up a few skills but no wave sharing skills. Its pointless trying to explain, you just get a blank look and justification.

But I know who he is.

Select to expand quote

surfershaneA said..
How about some more written rules like have respect for old grey bastards who you might not realise have been surfing the said beach for at least 35 years. This applies even if they might be riding a SUP, albeit better than most advanced prone shortboarders?

I had a bad experience last week with some twenty or so year old blow in chick who though she would look cool and get support picking on the SUP rider (me!). I have always had the utmost respect for female surfers even having done things like bring in vegetarian stews for the likes of Pauline Menczer and her mates back in the 90's at the Surfest professional comp ran at the same beach.

Before the ignorant foreign accented loudmouth paddled out I was bobbing around talking to a more than polite young lady about which SUPs would suit her.

My standard reply now is, Do you know where the road in is ? well use it now to leave.

Select to expand quote

Legion said..

Greenroom said..
I'd be sailing in on a swell setting up for the wave to peak and he will drop in on you.

Well under those circumstances he doesn't have much choice does he. He can't pick up a swell like a wind powered craft can.

His choice could be to bugger off to one of the protected bays and leave Main Break to the windsurfers?
We are all surfers and know that there is a time and a place for it. Clearly in a 20-30 knot sea breeze its not the time and place.
People who act like this are putting themselves in harms way.
If you don't sail you probably don't understand that there is a certain line you need to take to get planning and out of the wave zone. We you have people surfing in the break it makes it difficult to pick your line. They don't understand the physics of sailing and paddle in your way and try and push you up wind which is not possible for you to do if your under powered. There is no point trying to explain this unless you windsurf.

Had a mishap the other day . Had to bail on a wave to avoid a lid rider , who was in the impact zone . Only saw him while taking the drop . Anyway all was good when I surfaced , collision avoided , all happy . I pulled my board back to get out of there asap , as it was a bad spot to be , with overhead waves . As I turned , a wave stood up , and I knew I was gunna wear it . I quickly looked around to see old mate on his lid paddling toward me , not to the side of me . " Not Good " . I try to hold my board . Anyway after wearing it across my face and losing it I turned to my horror to see old mate with blood running down his head and he as complaining of a sore neck . I helped him to the beach and apologised . He also knew I wore it , due to a fat lip , cut under my eye and a blood nose . Said I would help him to his car, he declined . I apologised again , shook hands and we both paddled back out , after about ten minutes .
In the car park , we met again , he said he would get an x-ray , just to be on the safe side . Later in the week , I found out that he was OK

This is where it get interesting . Whilst checking the surf , caught up with old mate the lid rider . Said I happy to see your well . He said he's lucky to be alive .That's when it went pair shaped . Old mate said I'm dangerous and shouldn't be out there . Him and his lid mate , that wasn't even there , that day , were into me . I took it on the chin , said , you coped a hard whack , I can understand your anger . They said I was not to SUP out there again . A spot I have surfed as a teen and through to my mid 40's . I told him he had no hope of stopping me . Explained to him he was in a dangerous spot , therefore accidents happen . Told him if I was on a mal he still would have worn it . Old mate , who's , only surfed there for a year , two tops at this break said its his mission to keep me from SUP surfing my local .

Anyway I'm glad I got that off my chest . Just disappointed

Unfortunate when prangs occurr in surf. Cannot understand what you did wrong. Keep on surfing your spot with your sup. Same conflicts here, I just look at the waves and ignore everything I hear.

One thing i really enjoy about SUP is that it is relatively easy to paddle a long way to find another break. There will always be dicks at point breaks who think they own the beach. No one owns the waves. I copped abuse and filthy looks early on, mainly due to the behaviour of other SUP users. Now i do my own thing and keep fit doing it. After having a euro chick cruise over the top of my board and take my legs out, i am very wary of inexperienced SUP riders. Look left and right before dropping over that lip!

Select to expand quote

Legion said..
Well under those circumstances he doesn't have much choice does he. He can't pick up a swell like a wind powered craft can.

Actually, with a sail your trajectories are severely limited. Plus you can't even stay in place to wait for the set.

What is sad with this surfing-in-the-wind case and the reverse snake ones, is that they force people to create dangerous situations in order to get their waves by enforcing priorities (coming at speed, making a hook around the snaker to get inside him. If the snakers still take off, that is a major crash at full speed). Something rules were made to avoid...

Of course, being reverse snaked may be your fault (you took off far away on the shoulder). Been there, done it... Or it can be the usual shortboard plague: guys that take off too inside, just to get the priorities, and then spend all the ride in the foam...

Select to expand quote

stm said..
Had a mishap the other day . Had to bail on a wave to avoid a lid rider , who was in the impact zone . Only saw him while taking the drop . Anyway all was good when I surfaced , collision avoided , all happy . I pulled my board back to get out of there asap , as it was a bad spot to be , with overhead waves . As I turned , a wave stood up , and I knew I was gunna wear it . I quickly looked around to see old mate on his lid paddling toward me , not to the side of me . " Not Good " . I try to hold my board . Anyway after wearing it across my face and losing it I turned to my horror to see old mate with blood running down his head and he as complaining of a sore neck . I helped him to the beach and apologised . He also knew I wore it , due to a fat lip , cut under my eye and a blood nose . Said I would help him to his car, he declined . I apologised again , shook hands and we both paddled back out , after about ten minutes .
In the car park , we met again , he said he would get an x-ray , just to be on the safe side . Later in the week , I found out that he was OK

This is where it get interesting . Whilst checking the surf , caught up with old mate the lid rider . Said I happy to see your well . He said he's lucky to be alive .That's when it went pair shaped . Old mate said I'm dangerous and shouldn't be out there . Him and his lid mate , that wasn't even there , that day , were into me . I took it on the chin , said , you coped a hard whack , I can understand your anger . They said I was not to SUP out there again . A spot I have surfed as a teen and through to my mid 40's . I told him he had no hope of stopping me . Explained to him he was in a dangerous spot , therefore accidents happen . Told him if I was on a mal he still would have worn it . Old mate , who's , only surfed there for a year , two tops at this break said its his mission to keep me from SUP surfing my local .

Anyway I'm glad I got that off my chest . Just disappointed

Maybe the lids looks at there boards and think to themselves that if a head high waves breaks on them and they bail no one behind will get hurt. But they see your board and realise how much damage those behind it can cop.