A wipeout is one thing that scares many people when surfing, especially beginners. Falling face-first on the water and losing your board through an angry barrel is an experience that makes anyone hesitant to surf. At its worst, a bad wipeout can lead to a serious injury, which could have been avoided if you know how to do things right.
By learning how to pull through a surfing wipeout, you are saving not only yourself but also your board. It is one of the most crucial survival skills every new surfer needs to learn. This gives you the courage to tackle even big waves without worries of drowning or injuries.
One of the most important things to remember is that a wipeout is inevitable. Rather than avoiding a wipeout, you should be more concerned about how to respond to it. Do not panic and keep in mind the tips that we’ll share in this short article.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Pulling Through a Wipeout
Different people may have varying approaches to how they effectively deal with a wipeout. In most instances, however, the steps we’ll briefly mention below will come handy:
1. Breathe
Upon seeing a big wave approaching, most people tend to panic quickly. You immediately feel scared and helpless, without any idea of what to do next. This should not be the case. If you panic, you won’t be able to control your next move. Keep calm all the time. Even if you are already in a stressful situation, learn how to manage your fear. The more stressed you are, the more oxygen your body will need, making it harder to breathe. By staying calm, you can retain your air supply in your lungs longer, which is a great way to prevent labored breathing.
2. Jump from the Board
If you see the wave approaching and you know that you are about to fall, you should jump immediately. Do not wait for the wave to hit you before you get off. When you are jumping, make sure to head as far from the board as possible. If you are too near, you will likely hit your head on the board, which will be a cause of injury. It is best to jump towards the wave or over it. Head straight to the back portion of the board. The churning whitewater is also a good target if you are jumping, which will minimize the pressure that your body feels as you land on the water.
3. Jump Like What You Would in a Shallow Water
Speaking of jumping off the board, always assume that you will be heading to a shallow part of the water. Don’t think that you will be in a deep part of the water. If you think that you will be jumping in deep water, there is a higher chance that you will injure yourself. In most cases, the bottom part is only two to three feet above you. Exerting a lot of pressure as you jump off the board can hurt and sprain your ankle. By assuming that the water is shallow, you can easily protect yourself.
4. Go with Your Butt First
Another important thing to remember is that you enter the water with your butt going first. You should pretend to be doing a cannonball jump. To do this, you need to bend your knees and legs slightly, which will allow you to land with your butt hitting the water first. Otherwise, if your feet or leg touches the water as you get off the board, there is a higher likelihood that you will end up with a sprain. Aside from landing in your butt, another good thing to do is to extend your arm. This is the one to slap the water first instead of your head or leg.
5. Protect Your Head
Above, we noted that you should go with your butt first as you get off the board. This is one of the best ways of protecting the head. You don’t have a helmet when you are surfing, which exposes the head and makes it prone to injuries. In most surf destinations, some reefs can lead to head injuries, so you need to cover your head as you fall. Use your arms to protect the head from sharp objects under the water that can cause an injury.
6. Get Low
As you enter the water, the goal is to go as low as possible. This is because water tends to be more chaotic on the surface. The waves are large and can end up being suffocating. The lower you get when you are underwater, the calmer it will be. Because of the lesser movement, this makes it easier to predict your next move and to prevent panic.
7. Get Out of the Water
Once you are underwater, you need to stay calm and think of how to get out. Open your eyes to be aware of the environment, which will make it easier to predict your next move. Even if you want to be on the top as soon as possible, proceed with caution. You need to pay attention to the possibility that there is a surfer or a board above you. If you get out of the water hurriedly, you might not just hurt yourself, but you might end up hurting other people as well.
8. Retrieve Your Board
During the wipeout, you might end up losing your board. Good thing, most people don’t surf without their leash on. This decreases the chances that you will be separated from your board. As a responsible surfer, you need to have the board close to you all the time. Otherwise, it can be a risk for other surfers.
Pro Tips
Before we end this post, below are quick tips on surviving a wipeout:
Conclusion
Learning how to pull through a wipeout is one thing that every surfer needs to know. Especially if you are a beginner, this is a crucial skill to avoid injuries while also minimizing the likelihood that you will break your board
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