Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Hawaii

Stand Up Surf Etiquette

Stand up surfing in Hawaii is a blast, but it’s important to develop a good understanding of the unspoken "rules" or expected surf etiquette before venturing into a surf line-up.  In a series of posts, we'll do our best to give you a foundation to work from that's designed to keep you and those around you happy and healthy.

Most Hawaii SUP surfers learned to prone surf long before their first paddle out on an SUP.  This previous experience makes them inherently aware of what it means to be a polite and courteous surfer whether on a prone or stand up board.  They also understand the importance of developing their skills such that they are up to the task at hand.  On the other hand, those that are new to the sport may not have the same skill or understanding.  So let's take a look as some of the very basics and move on from there.

Making Friends

All surfers, stand up or prone, seem to have a protective gene that somehow makes them less than receptive to an additional player in an already crowded line-up.  So take a pause and sit down off to the side and do your best to watch from afar before wondering right into the pack.  Yes the water belongs to all of us but showing a little respect for those already there goes a long way towards quieting our hunter gather instincts.

Work your way in slowly by taking a couple of the smaller ones that seem to go by unnoticed.  This helps you warm up and get into sync with the flow of things.  As the focus shifts from the "new" guy, you show the needed skills to handle yourself and have demonstrated a little aloha, next thing you know your in.  

Enjoy the ride and remember a little aloha goes a long way towards making friends in the water.

Be sure that you are very confident with your ability to control and manage your equipment  before paddling out.