Surfer pays the price for drop-in

There's no bigger sin in surfing than dropping-in.

But if there's one way to learn a lesson it's to cop a blow from another rider's board.

And that's the price one surfer paid after being landed on by another board rider after dropping-in on him.

The surfer copped a nasty blow to the back when he went to take off on a small beach break wave just as another rider launched an aerial.

The aerialist landed fins first on the drop-in, who was lucky to escape serious injury.

The footage, which was posted online by Australian surfing magazine Stab, has sparked a frenzy of comments with some slamming the surfer, who launched the air, suggesting he committed an act of "cowardice".

Many felt his decision to launch the air toward the drop in was a deliberate act of "malice", while others felt he was already committed to the move and it was purely unlucky for the drop-in.

For those unfamiliar with surfing's golden rule, a rider on the inside - closest to the breaking wave - always has right of way.

Taking off while someone inside is already on the wave is dropping-in - something every surfer has done at some point, particularly in crowded beach break conditions.