Give And Receive
I once read a comment by a surfer that the only thing worse than a SUP rider was a good surfer who was a SUP rider. Namely that someone who is competent on a surfboard, who knows the line up and can ride their SUP proficiently has the ability to hog every wave that comes to him or her. It goes without saying that this can make you as popular as a fart in a lift. Waiting your turn, letting set waves go, calling when you can see sets approach from your higher vantage point and generally making yourself ‘Captain Congeniality’ can go a long way to getting some wave credit from the crowd. Kill them with kindness!
Sit Down Talks
If you’ve ever been prone surfing in a line up with SUPs, you’ll know just how intimidating it can be to be surrounded by people standing over you. Ever wonder why interrogation scenes have the prisoner in the chair and the guards standing over them? It’s basic human psychology to be threatened by a height difference, break the tension by sitting down between waves and even having a chat. That can open the conversation as to when it can please be your turn to politely catch a wave! If that doesn’t work, up your wave count by reading ‘How to win friends and influence people”!
Paddle Power
Most people will catch the closest wave to the car park, SUPs have the ability to make distant peaks more accessible and escape the crowds. Similarly whilst smaller waves might not be the obvious choice for most surfers and so relatively unridden, SUP’s forte is to make the most of weaker waves and allow us to trade quality for quantity, all the while increasing our fitness.
Statically waiting for waves is neither fun or productive, what I like to do when waiting my turn on busy days is paddle out the back and check out the cliffs, a local landmark or do some fitness or balance drills. It gives you a time out from the crowds, diffuses any accusations of being a wave hog but also helps fill out the session in a constructive manner.
