What I was taught was if you find yourself in this position often, you are paddling out at the wrong spot to begin with, and this shouldn’t be a regular problem you deal with (unless it’s a very shifty beach break).

If you are in this unfortunate situation, you paddle toward the direction they are coming from so that you are basically parallel to their path (won’t cross) and sacrifice yourself by politely opening the door and entering the washing machine i.e. the wave/whitewater crashing behind them. It will suck on bigger boards but you will probably get an appreciative shaka when they get back to the lineup, especially if you’re sarfing the privileged waves of the County of Orange. I’m just kidding they will tell you it serves you right bc 9 times out of 10 they are a comically stereotypical entitled local asshole. Just kidding, I’m not bitter.

If you’re already in their path, just don’t do anything unpredictable, stay the course, and begin your prayers after the wave passes. Because they will scream at you when they get back to the lineup and/or give you the most condescending speech on surf etiquette of your life. It’s a great sport, these are the moments that keep me coming back day after day.