If you feel your surfing is progressing and you are ready to go out back (beyond the broken waves) you may be at the stage of challenging yourself to sitting nearer the major line up provided the surf conditions are suitable. Watch the regularity of sets; find two fixed points on the beach or cliff which you can line yourself up with so you can tell if you are drifting around with the water movement. Line up so you fix your position just a bit further out where the last wave broke in a set, if there are other surfers in the line up let them take their share of waves, watch them and learn from their experience and mistakes! Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation and ask them advice more often than not they will call you on to a wave or give you a wave helping to get you in the right position to take off. Continually monitor the horizon, as a set approaches go for the third or fourth in the set. Try and paddle your self into a position where the wave is at its highest point or 'peak', this will be the first part of the wave to break. The first or second waves in a set are good markers as to where the rest of the waves in the set will break. Remember it is not an exact science and waves are all very individual in their characteristics and how and where they exactly break. Working out where the wave will break and how uses a degree of intuition based on experience. Observe the conditions from the beach. Avoid catching the first or second wave of a set because if you wipe out then you will be in the impact zone for the rest of the waves. Take your time and don't rush.

Where are other surfers positioned? Is my ability up to theirs? Often novice surfers paddle straight out to the peak and sit right next to more experienced surfers waiting for their turn on a wave. If you feel that you might be in the way - you probably are. If you don't know how to control your board and get caught by a 'set' (or large group of waves) that start breaking on you and you don't know what to do it can cause a dangerous situation to yourself and other surfers. Know your limits and work up to more advanced surfing conditions, 'only fools rush in'.

Ask about the 'drop in rule'. This is a generally accepted rule whereby the person nearest to the breaking part of the wave has priority - when paddling for a wave look left, look right. If there is no other surfer already riding the wave then go for it. When paddling out and a surfer is riding a wave towards you never bail or leave go of your board. Aim to paddle behind the surfer to the broken part of the wave. Change direction if necessary, do not paddle for a line in front of the incoming surfer as this is bad etiquette and could result in you being run over.

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