Big Waver Surfer Backs Maroubra Etiquette Signs

By Marcus Braid on November 12, 2015 in News

Randwick City Council has installed new public information signage along Maroubra Beach to educate wave riders on local surf etiquette, which local big wave expert Mark Mathews says leaves a lot to be desired.

The rising popularity of the Eastern Suburbs beach with inexperienced surfers – especially from overseas – has led to the permanent installation of six “Surfers’ Code” signs.

Mr Mathews, a world big wave champion and Maroubra resident, said the signs were a good idea.

“I saw those signs the other day. In Sydney, there are so many people who go in the water who have no idea about surf etiquette,” he said. “They can get some idea there.

“If you were going to instil anything, I’d say it’s that beginner surfers should ride soft boards and not fibreglass boards. Soft boards are getting so good that a beginner surfer doesn’t lose anything from riding one, and it’s that much safer than having that many surfers around on fiberglass boards.”

Mr Mathews has been surfing at Maroubra since he was a child, and he said it was frustrating watching beginners make simple etiquette-related mistakes.

“It leaves plenty to be desired,” he said. “There are guys having their first surf and learning how to surf who don’t understand. It’s etiquette, but it’s also making mistakes about where you’re paddling out, and where you sit in a line-up. There’s a whole lot of stuff that people have got to learn over time.

“I feel like the signs should just say, ‘If you’re a beginner surfer, pick the emptiest spot on the beach rather than the most crowded spot’. You’re going to have a better surf surfing in the most uncrowded spot.”

The signs illustrate basic safety tips and rules to follow in the water, and are located at the busiest points of entry to the beach.
The signs follow the standard guidance of Surfing NSW, providing advice such as keeping outside the flags, not snaking or dropping in on other surfers and staying in control of the board.

“They’re not doing any harm being there and if they stop one person from dropping in one day, that’s good,” Mr Mathews said.

Randwick City Council has taken this initiative in response to a 30 percent increase in surfing activity at the beach over the past three years.

An informal survey carried out by lifeguards found that many inexperienced surfers were unaware of the basic rules of surfing etiquette and of general beach safety.

Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza said the purpose of the surfer’s code signage is to help surfers – particularly less experienced ones and visitors – avoid accidents and conflict in the water.

“We’re hoping these signs will help keep our surf beaches safe and help surfers share the water,” he said.

“Thousands of surfers from across Sydney – and the world – flock to Maroubra Beach, which is Australia’s second only National Surfing Reserve. Anecdotal feedback is that there has been about a 30 percent increase in the number of surfers at this beach.”

Further information about the Surfers’ Code is available at www.randwick.nsw.gov.au.