Anyone heading Down Under to catch some waves should be aware that all surfers in Australia are now required to stick to a code of ethics designed to prevent “surf rage”.
The code was published yesterday by the Surfrider Foundation Australia (SFA), after warnings that police on jet skis would be introduced if peace does not break out on the waves. Surfing has grown in popularity over the last 30 to 40 years; so much so that there are often not enough waves to go around.
According to The Guardian, surf rage really came to light in 2000 when former professional surf champion Nat Young was hospitalised by a fellow surfer in a dispute over waves.
Don Osborne, an official of the SFA, told The Guardian: “It is very important that we address this in a self-regulatory way. If we do not, the authorities will step in and create a legal structure for the surf. We could have police on jet skis, and how bad would that be? It’s just not what surfing is about.”
Posters and signs explaining the new code (in several languages) are soon to be put up at surf beaches around Australia.
