Port Fairy Surf School
Safe Surfing Tips and Facts
Surfing is a very popular sport with an estimated 18 million surfers globally. Surfing is regarded as a safe sport with the main cause of injury being contact with a surfer's own board or that of another surfer, and swimmers ear or surfer's ear is also a common problem. Effective injury prevention involves a variety of measures including good preparation, good technique, appropriate practices, correct equipment, appropriate injury management and knowing how to identify and deal with rip currents.
Good preparation involves warming up (including suitable stretching exercises) and applying sunscreen (30+) prior to entering the water. Always let someone know where you are surfing. Never surf alone.
Good technique can be achieved by participating in a Surfing Victoria accredited Learn to Surf program, such as that offered by Port Fairy Surf, where you will learn the appropriate skills, technique and water safety.
Appropriate surfing practices Surfing etiquette should be practiced by all surfers to avoid collisions, and includes respecting the rights of other surfers and swimmers in the water, and allowing everyone to catch their share of waves. Inexperienced surfers should never surf alone and a responsible adult should supervise children at all times when surfing. Surfers should check weather reports and beach conditions before entering the water to ensure safety. Adequate fluids (preferably water) should be consumed before, during and after activity to avoid dehydration.
Correct equipment When purchasing a surfboard, seek the help of a surfing professional. Consideration should be given to purchasing a board with flexible fins and a blunt nose or protective nose guard, which will minimise injury risk. To prevent board rash, surfers should wear either a rash vest or an appropriate wetsuit. Surfers should always wear a leg rope, especially in large surf. Port Fairy Surf has a large range of new and used surfboards and leg ropes at reasonable prices.
Injury management Surfers should stop and exit the water immediately if an injury occurs then seek appropriate assistance. All Surf Life Saving clubs have First Aid kits on hand and emergency contact details. Wherever possible, carry a mobile phone with your belongings in case of an emergency.
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Rips - What is a rip? |
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A rip is a strong current running out to sea from a surf beach. Rips can easily sweep swimmers and surfers out to sea from shallow water, sometimes several hundred metres offshore. A rip usually occurs when a channel forms between two sandbars. When this happens, water which has been pushed towards the beach by the waves rushes back out to sea between the two sandbars, causing a drag effect. Rips occur at all beach locations and common signs of a rip are:
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How do I know if I'm caught in a rip? |
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Because they are often very difficult to identify, many people don't realise they are caught in a rip until they find themselves too far out from the beach. You should always try to take note of a landmark, such as a tree or a building, before you go into the water, so you can tell if you are being swept out to sea.
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What do I do if I get caught in a rip? |
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If you are caught in a rip, don't fight it - stay calm and float with the current, swim across the current - not against it, raise an arm to signal for help. Once out of the current, if you can manage, swim to shore. If not, float and wait for assistance.
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