One year at the start of the GT300, going out on port was favored, so I yelled down at the boats on the line that we were taking off on port. They did so too. Traffic is my biggest concern first in the surf, since I've had two collisions due to someone driving accross the front of me while I was trying to stay as square as possible to the waves.
A little windward board, dragging the rudders and adjusting the mainsheet for speed without putting too much pressure on the rudders.
If you run down the beach to dodge a wave, you gotta pass to the rear of the boats that have right of way.