How to Stop Surfers from Paddling Around You in the Lineup
Ben ConsidineShare
Do you ever feel like other surfers keep taking your spot in the lineup—like you’re being paddled around and out-positioned, wave after wave?
It’s frustrating, and it can leave you feeling invisible out there.
But what if it’s not that others are being rude… it’s that they’re reading your body language?
Here’s the truth: Experienced surfers are constantly assessing who’s holding position and who’s not. And they make fast decisions based on what they see.
Why Surfers Paddle Around You
In crowded or competitive lineups, experienced surfers look for any signs of hesitation or drifting. If you’re sitting still, casually chatting, or getting slowly pulled out of position, they take it as a sign:
You’re not committed. You’re not claiming the peak.
So, they paddle around you—often subtly—and take the next wave from the inside.
It’s not always aggressive. It’s calculated. And if you want to be respected and catch more waves, you need to show that you belong at the peak.
How to Hold Your Position in the Lineup
This doesn’t mean you need to start shoulder-bumping people or burning waves. It just means you need to look active and present.
Here’s how:
1. Lightly Paddle—Consistently
Instead of sitting still, keep lightly paddling—just enough to stay engaged and subtly move toward the peak. It shows you’re reading the lineup and you know what’s going on.
2. Track the Peak Like You Want It
Keep your eyes on the wave and make small adjustments to stay close to where the sets are forming. Look like you’re hunting, not drifting.
3. Don’t Get Pulled Out of Position
Currents and wind can slowly pull you out of prime takeoff zones. If you’re not adjusting, others will notice—and take advantage.
4. Signal with Your Posture
Confidence is often non-verbal. Sit tall, paddle with purpose, and make it clear you’re ready for the next wave.
The Takeaway
In surfing, body language is everything. If you want to stop others from taking your spot in the lineup, show them—without words—that you’re switched on, engaged, and in control.
It’s a subtle shift, but it can mean the difference between catching waves—or watching them go by.
Hold your space. Paddle with presence. Catch what’s yours.