You have your surfboard, you have waxed it, you have put on the leash and you are ready to paddle. Only problem? It’s an epic day and the beach break is FULL of people… Not the best setting for surfers.

I’m from Sydney, Australia, and while I’m not a professional surfer, I’m certainly above average skill and fitness level (I am/was a professional tennis player).

Before we get into the tips for getting the most waves, there are a few considerations to keep in mind regarding surf etiquette:

1. I grew up in Sydney. This is a city known worldwide for its surfing. Many breaks are crowded throughout the year and full of tourists/beginners. The most famous beach break is Bondi Beach… If this type of beach is your local, then this guide is for you. Think Huntington, Malibu, Snapper, Pipeline crowds… only Bondi has waves that don’t come close to the same quality as the places mentioned above, but sometimes bigger crowds.

2. One of the main concerns of surfers is if there are other OPTIONS for nearby waves. If you stop at your beach/area and there are people at every wave, write down the number of wave sets and how many are left unridden, that will tell you if there is room for you or your crew. . Go to another local spot on the way and surf the break there.

If you’re like me younger, and went to the beach with your parents, analyzing swell/wind/tide changes and expectations, you may have been inclined to push to go for the “best” surf option. That said, Mom wants her coffee, so we go to the usual crowded place and that’s it. Good. Paddle through the crowd, but be respectful of others and don’t go for every wave.

Be curious, if you can still ride good waves on a less crowded beach, go for it and save yourself the hassle of those in the water having to deal with someone else in your path.

Okay, with that necessary courtesy disclaimer, let’s get into this:

How to get the most waves when there are a lot of people:

Step 1: Observe

There are a few factors at play that you should first consider before understanding how best to catch waves. As always, you should LOOK at the ocean for 15-20 minutes before you get in to know where the waves are, where the peaks of the waves are (for a good launch point), and where the best waves are caught…experienced surfers who they don’t necessarily have great physical fitness, although this is often the case, but they do understand the mechanics of the ocean.

*Note: Do not go out if you think the conditions are too challenging for your ability. Watch for rocks, rips, currents, wave heights, or red strings.*

Step 2: Understanding

You want to visualize yourself doing what the best surfers do on any given day. This means having reference points from the ocean so you know if you are too far away or out of position on the reef/bank. It’s usually a house/tree/sign of whatever…just something you can use to line up where you sit and make sure you’re in the best spot to catch waves.

This may seem obvious to an advanced surfer, however many surfers just paddle out and sit next to whoever. This might work on occasion to get a good wave if the shorelines are messy (they don’t line up in the same place consistently), but not on really good days. And I know those are the ones you surf.

Step 3: Fitness?

This is where you need to make a realistic judgment about your physical ability, experience, the board, your surfing, the dangers or difficulty of taking off, and the ability of others in the lineup.

Ask yourself, “How far out could I sit and still have enough speed to catch the waves I want?” The answer will vary based on factors like your physical ability, type of board, etc. As I mentioned, but basically you want to sit “deeper” or “further” than others so you have priority riding the wave (I’ll explore this concept momentarily).

Being on the wave earlier means standing up earlier, and standing up earlier means controlling your positioning better/faster on the wave.

A common example is longboarder vs shortboarder. The 9ft longboard paddles easier, thus generating more speed with less effort and catches waves “earlier” or earlier than a shorter board with less volume and buoyancy. Therefore, the longboarder sits further away, allowing him to better choose his waves.

An idea on a REALLY good day might be to ride a thicker/longer board depending on the conditions as there will probably be a lot of good surfers taking advantage of the big waves…this anticipation of a bigger board allows you (perhaps the weakest or less experienced surfer) to have fun and catch some waves, which is what this sport is all about.

Step 4: Priority: The Unwritten Golden Rule of Surfing

As I mentioned before, the idea is to have “priority” or “be in the best position” to catch the wave and make it “yours”.

Within your ability and that of your board, you should sit further away than the other surfers and/or “deeper” or “closer” to the break point. This just means that if you’re riding a wave that breaks to the right (from the direction you’re paddling), you want to be to the left of other surfers who are also looking to catch that wave.

For beach breaks or A-shaped waves that break in an “A” shape (both ways left and right), there will usually be two people looking for the wave with higher priority… the only difference is the guy from the right (with priority to all surfers to its right) goes to the right, and vice versa.

Get priority by paddling earlier and deeper than everyone else. Many people, when they see someone paddling early with a purpose, usually back off if they are intermediate or lower in skill.

Step 5: Commit – Go ahead!

Finally, in a crowded recess, everyone goes rowing. It’s just a standard fact. My advice would be to wait at least for the second or third wave in the set so you have a clearer line to paddle when half the lineup misses the first wave.

You can also let the others fight for the average waves and gain some goodwill to “give” the others some waves. This way, when you turn around and paddle out for the really good wave you want, you’ll have people giving you your turn to surf more freely than otherwise.

make noise It’s a given that the alpha of any group is bigger and louder than everyone else in the animal kingdom, so use this psychology to your advantage. People will know you’re serious since you’ve claimed the wave. Although this technique is only really valid among the most experienced surfers due to the increasing need to make the waves you ask for, or you will lose credibility among the lineup and make the waves go unsurfed…which no one wants.

*Note: Only ask for a wave if you are in the best position and have priority. In localized places like Oahu, Hawaii, you could get punched if you do this incorrectly. I’d also recommend this idea only on an epic quality session… you’re often considered a shower if you push yourself too hard on a bad surf day. Just ride, you’ll get your waves even if you don’t have much time.*

That’s it! Follow these tips and you will surely get more waves and have more fun. Some places are obviously more difficult to get more waves due to the skill required to surf them, the size of the launch area, the quality and popularity of the waves, etc. at the same time. win win

There are many surf-fit videos on YouTube, just search for “surf fitness” and you should be fine if you want to improve your strength, endurance, balance, and general ability to surf.

Health.