Etiquette
Don't be that person.
Eight rules every surfer knows.
The lineup is shared. Etiquette keeps it from becoming a war zone — and gets you respected faster than any logo on your board.
The basics
Priority belongs to the surfer closest to the peak.
If they're already on it or paddling for it, it's their wave. Period.
Don't drop in.
Taking off in front of someone already riding the wave is the cardinal sin of surfing.
Don't snake.
Paddling around someone to claim priority you didn't earn is worse than dropping in.
Hold on to your board.
Bailing your board on a packed lineup is dangerous and lazy. Learn to duck-dive or turtle.
Paddle around, not through.
Don't paddle straight through the impact zone or in front of a riding surfer. Go wide.
Apologize when you mess up.
Everyone makes mistakes. Owning them defuses things fast. Pretending you didn't is what starts fights.
Respect the locals.
Earn waves by waiting your turn, watching how the lineup works, and being a positive presence — not by paddling straight to the peak.
Leave it cleaner than you found it.
Pick up trash, even if it's not yours. The beach is the office.
Bottom line
Be the surfer you'd want next to you.
Most lineup conflicts evaporate if everyone reads the rotation and takes turns. The locals will notice — and the waves come easier.