So burned. Photo: Patrick Eichstaedt.
Getting burned, snaked, dropped in on, taken off on, iced, snow balled (call it what you will) is a total bummer. It happens to the best of us. And, unfortunately, as the surfing population continues to increase, it’s likely to occur more frequently.
There are a few unwritten rules in surfing. The kind that if a friend doesn’t instill in the beginning surfer will be hammered into them much more aggressively by the rest of the lineup. Namely, the rules about positioning and priority – the one closer to the peak gets the wave. Or, they should.
Like all things, there are caveats. I don’t mean to say they’re right or wrong, but there are certain ways that some in the lineup rationalize blatantly taking off on others in better position. But whereas the unwritten rules are still fairly widely understood, offending burners might operate according to a logic all their own. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but here are eight of the most common justifications decoded that someone might use to obtrusively drop in on you:
We get it. Crowds are tough. Photo: Ingervandyke.com
1. You’re not a local
Localism is on the decline in most areas. Maybe it’s a product of a more globalized society, or maybe it just has to do with how many more surfers there are now than ever before – being a salty local is a full time job these days. But the legacy of localism and it’s underlying logic, that the dudes that live within walking distance of a break deserve priority, pervades. And even if you are a local in a geographic sense, if nobody in the water knows you the same rule typically applies. Of course localism varies not just break to break but from person to person. You might not get burned one day, and need ice the next.
If you look like you don’t surf often. You may be nursing a burn most days. Photo: Kook of the Day
2. You look like you might not surf well
Looks are everything in surfing. Part of jockeying for position is sizing up the lineup. Who looks like they can rip the next head high set wave a new one? Who looks like they’d blow it? Did you see what that one guy pulled on that last one? The bottom line is this is a choice of pragmatism on behalf of the offending surfer. It means that he or she believes the wave would be wasted on you, and even though you’re in proper position, they’re going. No question.
If someone thinks they can juice a wave better than the first in line, it might lead to a situation like this. Photo: Screenshot/Vimeo
3. The offender surfs better than you
In a similar vein to sizing up the lineup, if the wave of the day comes through it’s quite possible someone who surfs better (or thinks they do) might take the inside angle. It’s selfish. And it comes from a place of entitlement, i.e., “If I surf better, I deserve this thing more than you do.” It sucks to be on the receiving end – especially when the offender is simply a legend in their own mind.
“Hopefully nobody’s seeing this.”
4. You blew a previous wave
The final permutation in the string of similar “size up” logic is this: the offender saw a previous wave of yours wherein you fell. That was your shot, and you blew it, so the logic goes. And due to the limited nature of this wave resource, waste cannot be tolerated. This is perhaps one of the few caveats of this entire list that makes some sense. But still. It’s just one wave, right?
Not even the most awkward shaka of all time makes pleading ignorance ok.
5. The offender doesn’t know the rules
Ignorance is perhaps the most common reason burns occur. People just don’t know the rules. But just like in the U.S. judicial system, pleading ignorance doesn’t excuse the offense in question.
“Feet first. My wave!”
6. Feet first
A topic of hot debate, a certain branch of surf etiquette holds that not only does the surfer closest to the peak have priority, but also that surfer must get to his or her feet first. If someone with inside position stands up before the other, it’s that persons time to shine. This tends to get complicated when longboarders and shortboarders cohabitate the lineup. With greater buoyancy, longboarders have an advantage when it comes to catching a wave further out on the shoulder. Meanwhile, shortboarders need more juice. The jury is out on this train of thought, but it exists.
Too deep, mate!
7. You were too deep
Sometimes being in position doesn’t mean your in the best position. Often jockeying for priority out the back leads to surfers playing mind games in the lineup, pushing one another too deep. If you don’t look like you’re in position to take full advantage of a wave or it looks like it might close out on you, someone in better position might seize the opportunity.
“Sorry, bud. Couldn’t see you. Sun was in my eyes.”
8. The plain old “sun was in my eyes” excuse
Being that surfing is practiced outside, sometimes the sun does make it difficult to see other people that might be in better position on a wave. But that hasn’t stopped some from taking advantage, and using the excuse as a cop out.
Sometimes getting burned is a message being sent. Ask yourself. Are you a dick? Photo: Juicewhale
9. You’re a dick
If the above reasons don’t adequately explain why you’ve been getting burned lately (and you also happen to work on your lineup scowl in the mirror, and often find yourself calling everybody in the lineup a kook), it might be time to look in the mirror. Maybe you’re a dick. In which case, everyone is dropping in on you out of spite. If you take count of every person you burn in the lineup in a given session and celebrate when that number is high, don’t be surprised when the discontent you spew in the water comes around.
Bonus: The backpaddle
For those unfamiliar with the term, backpaddling occurs when someone sees a wave out the back and paddles quickly around everyone else to get inside position (behind their backs, hence the term). Most don’t take kindly to backpaddling, which explains why you might get burned if you perpetrate one of these sneak attacks. Being a victim of backpaddling kind of feels like getting burned, too. Maybe worse.
