The area beyond the break where surfers wait for waves — and the social space where the spot's rules apply.
The line-up is hierarchy as much as geography. Turning up at a new spot, you don't drop into the middle of the pack on the peak — you sit slightly wide, watch who takes which waves, and say hello. Those five minutes of restraint save you more grief than any technique will. Practically, line up two fixed landmarks on shore to hold your position, otherwise the current shifts you without you noticing. And don't sit in the impact zone where waves break — sit just beyond it.