The long term newbie must understand that he or she falls under a different light for other surfers than short term of vacationing surfers. Whereas short term surfers come and go, and by that nature is easier to ignore as potential dangers … long term newbies will more than likely show up at the same break repeatedly. In this instance, your surfing, and by association, the manner in which you learned to surf and continue to surf, are subject to strict scrutiny. Fair or not, this is the difference that one must transcend to be accepted into the fray.

Long term newbies must not only learn about the physical and mental nuances of riding a surfboard, but they must also understand the effect that their surfing has on other surfers, in addition to how their beginning style and mannerisms fit into the particular culture at any given “new” break. Where to sit at the lineup, where beginners should sit, and the etiquette obeyed by surfers at that specific break are just some of the finer points of what to look for … long term newbies need to figure out how to fit in, and present themselves as an informed new comer. Someone to be welcomed, and not shunned due to the danger they present.

Consult some surfers in your local surf breaks, and almost all of them can name (often in unison) a handful of surfers that they regard as dangerous or potentially dangerous. By watching carefully at specific line ups, you can often spot surfers that are repeatedly avoided by the regulars during takeoff. Although never thoroughly ostracized, they are clearly not welcomed into the fray. Often times, these surfers are clearly snaking waves, dropping in on other surfers, or just plain out endangering others. Look carefully, you can spot these “surf dangers” easily and quickly.

The long term newbie needs lessons, this is a fact. And if not the slick surf lesson hawking hucksters at tourist spots, then who?

The key is something that we all learned long ago, in kindergarten. Look and listen; Dick and Jane knew this right from the start. LOOK at the surf breaks when you paddle out; try to look more than trying to surf immediately. Look at what regulars do before they surf, look at how they paddle out and through which areas, look at the break and find peaks and shoulders that surfers sit at, look at what surfers do and how they do it.

And then there is LISTEN. Seek out a number of local surf instructors and ask them questions about etiquette and manners in the line up. Often times, they view this as respect for the lifestyle and the surfer, a nod to their abilities and their playground. After all, you are discovering how to better interact with them … not clumsily stomping through their home turf. Listen to their stories, because somewhere within the encrypted stories and warnings are the tell tale signs of what to do and what NOT to do at their break, or other breaks.

If you can look and listen to the wisdom within those surfers’ stories, then yours is the ocean and all that is in it. Go forth and LOOK newbie surfer … and LISTEN. The waves are calling, and you just may be a long term newbie making your way up to a regular at some break, where that fun-loving bunch will welcome you with open arms, and a lot of hooting and hollering!

This post is the second in a 2 part article about newbie / beginner surfers, surf school instructors, and the art of surfing. Part 1 is located here .

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