Surf Safety - Board Control and Use of Leg-rope

Understanding how to control your board is a crucial skill and respectful etiquette toward other ocean user groups. The following tips will help you manage the enormous responsibility you have under your feet:

Always wear a leg rope. Stray surfboards can do serious carnage and harm.

You never have permission to throw or discard your board.

Be honest with yourself. If you're not confident that you can manage your board, you should go back to surfing smaller waves and working on the basics.

When in the shallows, hold your board with both hands at your side, perpendicular to the waves.

Never paddle directly behind anyone. Accidents do happen, and surfers can lose control of their board for reasons beyond their control.

If negotiating a breaking wave, keep calm and perform a duck dive:

1. grab the rails under your chest

2. lean your upper body over the front part of the board

3. use paddle speed and shoulder strength to push the nose under water.

If you do fall off or lose control of your board, locate it as soon as safely possible.

The more time spent in the water, the greater your confidence, understanding and ability to read waves and conditions.

Never turn your back on the sea. Always watch for conditions such as waves and wind power that turn surfboards into dangerous missiles.

This information is produced by the Gold Coast Council, Queensland Australia.

Reference: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Gold-Coast-beaches/Surfing