APRÈS SURF CLUB: COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

How we show up for each other — in the water, at socials, and online

Why This Exists

Après is a coastal lifestyle community. That only works if everyone who shows up — new or longtime, beginner or advanced — feels welcome, safe, and glad they came. These guidelines aren't a rulebook for its own sake; they're how we protect the vibe that makes Après worth showing up for.

A few things we put above everything else:

• Belonging over ego
• Safety over spontaneity
• Community over personal agenda

Everything below is in that spirit.

Community Spirit & Respect

Show up with good energy. We get it — not every day is a good day, and Après is a place we hope helps you through the rough weeks, not just the good ones. But read the room: there are people in the group you don't know well yet, and oversharing right out of the gate can put a newcomer in an awkward spot before they've even gotten comfortable.

Be inclusive. Be respectful. Treat people well regardless of how long they've been around or how good they are on a board — that's what lets everyone, including you, get the most out of this community.

Surf & Session Etiquette

Every session opens with an etiquette breakdown — priority, right of way, safety in the lineup. We expect every member to uphold it, every time, no exceptions for how long you've been surfing.

That same respect doesn't end when you paddle in. How you treat people on the sand, and later at the bar, is just as much a part of Après as how you treat them in the water.

Member Responsibility

We do our best to make sessions easy to show up for and easy to enjoy. In return, we expect a bit of autonomy from our members:

• Follow host instruction during sessions — it's usually about safety, timing, or keeping things running smoothly.
• Do your part to help the session go off without a hitch.
• If a host needs a hand with something and you're able and in good health, offering to help goes a long way.

Après runs on people pitching in, not just showing up.

Alcohol & Venue Conduct

Plenty of sessions wind down with a drink together after. That's part of the culture — just know your limits. If you can't handle yourself responsibly, Après and the venue both reserve the right to ask you to leave.

Social Media Conduct

We don't monitor members' personal social media. But the same standard applies online as it does in person: don't say anything you wouldn't say to someone's face, and don't post anything you'd regret.

If something is brought to our attention that's making other members uncomfortable, we'll look into it and respond as outlined below.

Romantic Conduct & Member Safety

Après is a coastal lifestyle community, not a dating club. Romantic connections may happen naturally, but they should never come at the cost of someone else's comfort or safety.

What We Expect From Every Member

• Keep conversation friendly and read the room.
• If there's mutual, clearly reciprocated flirting — great. If it's not mutual, let it go.
• Only exchange numbers once interest is genuinely mutual.
• “No” or “not interested” means the conversation is over — no follow-up, no second attempt.
• Socialize in the group. Don't pull newcomers away to be alone with them.

This is the baseline. Most Après interactions look exactly like this, and that's the vibe we want to protect.

Behavior That Isn't Okay

• Following someone after they've walked away from you
• Continuing to pursue someone romantically or sexually after being told no
• Cornering, blocking, or physically isolating someone
• Making a member feel unsafe, pressured, or unable to enjoy the event
• Treating Après primarily as a place to pursue hookups rather than community
• Any behavior that causes someone to leave an event just to get away from you

If a host checks in with you about your behavior, take it seriously — it's a heads-up, not an accusation. Behavior like the above is handled under the same escalation model described at the end of this document.

How We Look Out for Newcomers

• You'll be greeted and introduced around, not left to fend for yourself.
• Hosts circulate through events and check in periodically.
• Event layouts are designed to keep people in the group, not tucked away in corners.

If someone is monopolizing your time and you'd rather be mingling, a host stepping in with a casual “hey, come join us over here” is completely normal — that's the culture working as intended, not an interruption.

Reporting a Concern

Whether it's about romantic conduct, in-water behavior, something said online, or anything else in these guidelines — if something doesn't sit right, tell us. You can:

• Talk to a host or a member of club leadership, in person.
• Submit a report anonymously: Anonymous Report Form

Every report is handled confidentially, taken seriously, and there is no retaliation for speaking up. You'll be told what happens next to the extent we're able to share it, and you're never expected to confront the situation yourself.

How We Respond to Violations

Every situation is handled case by case — context matters, and we'd rather get it right than apply a rigid formula. That said, our response generally follows the same escalation across every section of these guidelines:

Step 1 — Warning

A calm, factual, non-accusatory conversation — in person or in writing — about the specific behavior, how it impacted someone, and what we expect going forward. This is a warning, not a punishment.

Step 2 — Removal

If the behavior continues, or if the first incident is serious enough on its own, membership can be revoked. That can mean removal from in-person sessions, being blocked from club communication channels, and being banned from Après social media spaces.

This is handled quietly and professionally, without public drama — but it is a real consequence, and we don't hesitate to use it when it's warranted.

The Bottom Line

We say it often because we mean it: everyone here deserves to feel safe, welcome, and glad they came. If something's off — in the water, at the bar, online, or anywhere in between — tell a host. That's the whole system, and it works because our members look out for each other.