Hey Zuz, I am confused: Am I too friendly for the lineup?

One of the alternative loglines for The Wipeout Weekly is “normalize smiling in the lineup”—and that’s exactly what today’s Hey Zuz, I’m Confused is all about.

Hey Zuz, I’m confused. Am I just too friendly for the lineup?

I’m not a total beginner, but I’m not a local either—more like begintermediate. I smile, say things like “nice wave!” or “good one!” to break the ice. I apologize if I mess up and try to stay in my lane.

But… every time I open my mouth, I feel judged. No one talks back. Not a single smile. I get snaked more. It’s like the moment I seem friendly, I’m marked as a kook. What the actual?

Dear reader!

I know the feeling. Wait—no, I actually don’t know the feeling. I study people for a living, so I tend to be more cautious in the surf when it comes to engaging with other surfers.

But you’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

What you’re describing taps into something a lot of surfers—especially adult beginners—struggle with: the tension between friendliness and credibility. After all, we operate in a culture that still quietly admires “eating it.”

It’s not that surfers hate friendliness. It’s that friendliness means different things in the lineup, depending on your skill level, where you surf, and the general crowd vibe.

In many lineups, a quiet nod says: “I know the rules. I won’t get in your way.”
Whereas too much of the “stoke stoke stoke!!” energy can scream: “I’m new here,” or “I haven’t read the room.”

It’s not fair. But it’s often true: the friendlier you are, the more of a kook you’re assumed to be—until you prove otherwise.

Also: many surfers are quiet on purpose. Not because they’re rude, but because surfing is their meditation. Or they’re focused on reading the ocean. Or they’ve been burned by overfriendly lineups before.

And yes—some are just plain socially awkward. (We’ve all sat next to a silent paddler mid existential stare-off.)

It doesn’t mean you should stop what you’re doing. Just learn to read the green room better. Start small. Say less, smile more. Don’t force it. Let it come to you—if you know what I mean.

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team