Surfers come from around the world to Hawaii to enjoy the awesome waves, the spectacular scenery and the peaceful, tropical ambiance. They don’t come to get injured, they come to hang ten!
However, if surfers aren’t careful, their dream vacations can end in disaster. A fun time on the waves can turn into the sad end to a perfect vacation in zero seconds flat. That’s why we’ve put together our “Hang-Ten” surfing safety tips to help you stay safe and injury free during the best vacation of your life.
Tricks and tips to be a safe surfer
Like most incredible sports, surfing can be dangerous, but if you adhere to the following tips, you can reduce your chances of injury while surfing:
Just say “no” to surfing while drinking: It’s dangerous enough to be surfing on Hawaii’s big waves. Don’t complicate matters by getting drunk. Many surfers have made bad decisions and even drowned because they were too drunk to ride their boards safely.
Stay alert to other surfers: Many surfing injuries happen due to surfer collisions. A surfboard is hard and heavy and when a surfer is riding a wave, he or she is moving fast. Keep an eye out for people in the water so you can maneuver around them whether you’re on your board or swimming to catch your next break.
Stay inside your comfort zone: We know you want to impress yourself and your friends by taking advantage of Hawaii’s world-class, monster waves, but if you’re not accustomed to riding the big boys, caution should be the word of the day. Take your time and don’t jump on a big wave before you’re ready. And even if you think you’re ready, is it worth the risk?
Have a plan for rip currents: Don’t let a rip current turn into an R.I.P. current. Undertows and rip currents are common, and they don’t have to be dangerous if you navigate them appropriately. The key word is: Don’t panic. You cannot swim against these powerful currents: Swimming against them will exhaust you and put you at risk of drowning. Instead, tread water peacefully, and swim parallel to the coast. You’ll eventually swim out of the rip current’s influence and you’ll be able to swim back to shore without resistance.
Did you get hurt while taking a surfing class?
Surfing schools need to teach their students the above surfing safety lessons and more. Failure to take specific safety precautions for students could result in an injury or death to the surfing student, and the surfing school could be liable for the damages stemming from the accident.