A surfer at Santa Cruz, California

A surfer in Oahu

A surfer at Santa Cruz, California

Surfing is a surface water sport in which the participant is carried along the face of a breaking wave, most commonly using a surfboard, although wave-riders may make use of kneeboards, body boards (aka boogie boards), kayaks, surf skis, and their own bodies. Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English) known as ''"The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the The following is a list of surface water sports; these are sports which are performed atop a body of water Ocean surface waves are Surface waves that occur on the Free surface of the Ocean. Surfboards are elongated platforms used in the sport of Surfing. ---- Kneeboarding is an aquatic Sport where the participant is towed on a buoyant convex and hydrodynamically shaped board at a planing speed behind a Bodyboarding is a derivative of wave riding The average board consists of a small rectangular piece of Hydrodynamic foam Bodyboarding is a derivative of wave riding The average board consists of a small rectangular piece of Hydrodynamic foam A kayak is a small human-powered Boat. It typically has a covered deck and a cockpit covered by a Spraydeck. A surf ski is a long narrow lightweight Kayak with an open (sit-on-top cockpit usually with a foot pedal controlled Rudder. Bodysurfing is the art and sport of riding a wave without the assistance of any buoyant device such as a Surfboard or Bodyboard. Surfing-related sports such as paddleboarding and sea kayaking do not require waves, and other derivative sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing rely primarily on wind for power, yet all of these tools may as well be used to ride waves. Paddleboarding is a surface water sport in which the participant is propelled by a swimming motion usually on a long Surfboard close to the Shore. A Sea kayak or touring kayak is a Kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes bays and the ocean Kitesurfing, kiteboarding, uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small Surfboard or a kiteboard (which is like a Wakeboard) Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board also commonly called a sailboard usually two to five meters long and powered by a single sail

Two major subdivisions within contemporary stand-up surfing are reflected by the differences in surfboard design and riding style of longboarding and shortboarding.

In tow-in surfing (most often, but not exclusively, associated with big wave surfing), a surfer is towed into the wave by a motorized water vehicle, such as a jetski, generally because standard paddling is often ineffective when trying to match a large wave's higher speed. Tow-in surfing is a Surfing technique pioneered by Laird Hamilton, Buzzy Kerbox, Dave Kalama, Milton Willis Michael Willis and others in the Big wave surfing is a discipline in Surfing where surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet (6 Jet Ski is the Brand name of Personal watercraft (PWC manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd

Origin

See also: History of surfing

According to the website for a commercial documentary[1]surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesian culture, and the chief was the most skilled wave rider in the community with the best board made from the best tree. The history of surfing is shrouded in the mists of time as the origins of Surfing are unknown Moreover, the ruling class had the best beaches and the best boards, and commoners were not allowed on the same beaches, but they could gain prestige by their ability to ride the surf on their extremely heavy boards. According to the same website, surfing permeated ancient Polynesian society, including religion and myth, and Polynesian chiefs would demonstrate and confirm their authority by the skills they displayed in the surf. Hawaiian religion is a broad term encompassing a series of traditional beliefs and practices thought to have been passed down by the Tahitians and other Pacific islanders Polynesian mythology is the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia (meaning "many islands" in Greek a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island

The art of surfing was first observed by Europeans in 1767, by the crewmembers of the Dolphin at Tahiti. Later, Lieutenant James King, wrote about the art^[1] when completing the journals of Captain James Cook upon Cook's death in 1779. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Hydrodynamics

A surfer in Santa Cruz, California

Swell is generated when wind blows consistently over a large area of open water, called the wind's fetch. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A swell, in the context of an Ocean, is a formation of long Wavelength Ocean surface waves on the sea Fetch, often called the fetch length, is a term for the length of water over which a given Wind has blown The size of a swell is determined by the strength of the wind, the length of its fetch and its duration. So, surf tends to be larger and more prevalent on coastlines exposed to large expanses of ocean traversed by intense low pressure systems. A low pressure area, or " low " is a region where the Atmospheric pressure is lower in relation to the surrounding area

Local wind conditions affect wave quality, since the ridable surface of a wave can become choppy in blustery conditions. Ideal surf conditions include a light to moderate strength "offshore" wind, since this blows into the front of the wave making it barrel or tube.

The factor which most determines wave shape is the topography of the seabed directly behind and immediately beneath the breaking wave. Bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to Hypsometry. The name comes from Greek βαθυς deep, and μετρον measure. The contours of the reef or sand bank influence wave shape in two respects. In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, Firstly, the steepness of the incline is proportional to the resulting upthrust. When a swell passes over a sudden steep slope, the force of the upthrust causes the top of the wave to be thrown forward, forming a curtain of water which plunges to the wave trough below. Secondly, the alignment of the contours relative to the swell direction determines the duration of the breaking process. When a swell runs along a slope, it continues to peel for as long as that configuration lasts. When swell wraps into a bay or around an island, the breaking wave gradually diminishes in size, as the wave front becomes stretched by diffraction. Diffraction is normally taken to refer to various phenomena which occur when a wave encounters an obstacle

For specific surf spots, the state of the ocean tide can play a significant role in the quality of waves or hazards of surfing there. Tidal variations vary greatly among the various global surfing regions, and the effect the tide has on specific spots can vary greatly among the spots within each area. Locations such as Bali, Panama and Ireland experience 2-3 meter tide fluctuations, whereas in Hawaii the difference between high and low tide is typically less than one meter. Bali is an Indonesian Island located at, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

In order to know a surf break, one must be sensitive to each of these factors. Each break is different, since the underwater topography of one place is unlike any other. At beach breaks, even the sandbanks change shape from week to week, so it takes commitment to get good waves (a skill dubbed "broceanography" by a few California surfers). California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. That is why surfers have traditionally regarded surfing to be more of a lifestyle than a sport. Nowadays, however, surf forecasting is aided by advances in information technology, whereby mathematical modelling graphically depicts the size and direction of swells moving around the globe. Surf forecasting is a branch of marine Meteorology, developed and honed by the US Navy during the planning and execution of World War II beach landing operations

Surfing in the wake of the Upper Sluice, Thun, Switzerland

The regularity of swell varies across the globe and throughout the year. A wake is the region of Turbulence immediately to the rear of a solid body caused by the flow of Air or Water around the body A sluice is a water channel that is controlled at its head by a gate Thun (Thoune is a municipality in the district of Thun in the canton of Berne in Switzerland with about 42136 inhabitants ( Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation During winter, heavy swells are generated in the mid-latitudes, when the north and south polar fronts shift toward the Equator. In Meteorology, the polar front is the boundary between the polar cell and the Ferrel cell in each hemisphere The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the The predominantly westerly winds generate swells that advance eastward. So, waves tend to be largest on west coasts during the winter months. However, an endless train of mid-latitude cyclones causes the isobars to become undulated, redirecting swells at regular intervals toward the tropics. Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of Cyclones defined as synoptic scale low

East coasts also receive heavy winter swells when low pressure cells form in the sub-tropics, where their movement is inhibited by slow moving highs. Winter is one of the four Seasons of Temperate zones Calculated astronomically, it begins on the Solstice and ends on the Equinox In Meteorology, an anticyclone (that is opposite to a Cyclone) is a Weather phenomenon in which there is a descending movement of the air and These lows produce a shorter fetch than polar fronts, however they can still generate heavy swells, since their slower movement increases the duration of a particular wind direction. Fetch, often called the fetch length, is a term for the length of water over which a given Wind has blown After all, the variables of fetch and duration both influence how long the wind acts over a wave as it travels, since a wave reaching the end of a fetch is effectively the same as the wind dying off.

During summer, heavy swells are generated when cyclones form in the tropics. Tropical cyclones form over warm seas, so their occurrence is influenced by El Niño & La Niña cycles. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding El Niño-Southern Oscillation ( ENSO; commonly referred to as simply El Niño) is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon Their movements are unpredictable. They can even move westward, which is unique for a large scale weather system. In 1979, Tropical Cyclone Kerry wandered for 3 weeks across the Coral Sea and into Queensland before dissipating. The Pre-1970 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons ran year-round from July 1 to June 30 reaching their peaks mid-February to early March The Coral Sea is a Marginal sea off the north-east coast of Australia. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent

The quest for perfect surf has given rise to a field of tourism based on the surfing adventure. Yacht charters and surf camps offer surfers access to the high quality surf found in remote, tropical locations, where tradewinds ensure offshore conditions. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator. Since winter swells are generated by mid-latitude cyclones, their regularity coincides with the passage of these lows. Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of Cyclones defined as synoptic scale low So, the swells arrive in pulses, each lasting for a couple of days, with a couple of days between each swell. Since bigger waves break in a different configuration, a rising swell is yet another variable to consider when assessing how to approach a break.

Wave intensity classification

The geometry of tube shape can be represented as a ratio between length and width. Geometry ( Greek γεωμετρία; geo = earth metria = measure is a part of Mathematics concerned with questions of size shape and relative position A perfectly cylindrical vortex has a ratio of 1:1, while the classic almond-shaped tube is nearer 3:1. V erification of the O rigins of R otation in T ornadoes Ex periment or VORTEX, is a field project that seeks to understand how a When width exceeds length, the tube is described as "square".

Classification parameters

• Tube shape defined by length to width ratio
  • Square: <1:1
  • Round: 1-2:1
  • Almond: >2:1
• Tube speed defined by angle of peel line
  • Fast: 30°
  • Medium: 45°
  • Slow: 60°

Artificial reefs

The value of good surf has even prompted the construction of artificial reefs and sand bars to attract surf tourism. G-Land is an internationally renowned surfbreak situated on the Bay of Grajagan, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Teahupoʻo (commonly mispronounced as Chopu is a world-renowned surfing location off the south-east of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, southern Shark Island is a dangerous reef break about 100 Metres off Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia. G-Land is an internationally renowned surfbreak situated on the Bay of Grajagan, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Gnaraloo is a Surfing spot on the coast of Western Australia, situated 160 kilometres north of Carnarvon The Banzai Pipeline, or simply "Pipeline" or "Pipe", is a surf reef break located off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea of Lagundri Bay is a horseshoe shaped bay at the southern end of the island of Nias off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Snapper Rocks is a small rocky outcrop on the northern side of Point Danger at the southern end of Queensland 's Gold Coast. Bells Beach ( is an internationally famous Surf beach in Victoria, Australia, located 100 km south-west of Melbourne, on the Great An artificial reef is a man-made underwater structure typically built for the purpose of promoting marine life in areas of generally featureless bottom Of course, there is always the risk that one's holiday coincides with a "flat spell". Wave pools aim to solve that problem, by controlling all the elements that go into creating perfect surf, however there are only a handful of wave pools that can simulate good surfing waves, owing primarily to construction and operation costs and potential liability. A wave pool is a Swimming pool in which are artificially generated reasonably large Waves similar to the Ocean 's Simulation is the imitation of some real thing state of affairs or process

The availability of free model data from the NOAA has allowed the creation of several surf forecasting websites. Numerical weather prediction uses current weather conditions as input into Mathematical models of the atmosphere to predict the weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the Surf forecasting is a branch of marine Meteorology, developed and honed by the US Navy during the planning and execution of World War II beach landing operations

Surfers and surf culture

Main article: Surf culture

Surfers wait as a wave crashes. Surf culture includes the people language fashion and life surrounding the sport of modern Surfing.

Surfers represent a diverse culture based on riding the naturally occurring process of ocean waves. Surf culture includes the people language fashion and life surrounding the sport of modern Surfing. Some people practice surfing as a recreational activity while others demonstrate extreme devotion to the sport by making it the central focus of their lives. Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's Body or Mind. Within the United States, surfing culture is most dominant in California and Hawaii. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Some historical markers of the culture included the woodie, the station wagon used to carry surfers' boards, as well as boardshorts, the long swim suits typically worn while surfing. A woodie is a type of car, more specifically an early Station wagon (US or estate car/shooting brake (UK in which the rear portion of the car's bodywork is made Boardshorts are a style of men's and recently women's Swimwear that have long been associated with such aquatic sports as Surfing and Wakeboarding Today, the modern clothing retailer of Hollister Co. has marketed surfing culture to mainstream America. Hollister Co, HCO, or simply Hollister, is an American Lifestyle brand from parent brand and company Abercrombie & Fitch Co

The sport of surfing has become so popular that it now represents a multi-billion dollar industry specially in clothing and fashion markets. Surf culture includes the people language fashion and life surrounding the sport of modern Surfing. Some people make a career out of surfing by receiving corporate sponsorships, competing in contests, or marketing and selling surf-related products, such as equipment and clothing. This rise in popularity has also led to the creation of surf schools and camps, where lessons are taught to novice or beginner surfers. Other surfers separate themselves from any and all commercialism associated with surfing. Commercialism, in its original meaning is the practices methods aims and spirit of Commerce or Business. These "soul surfers," as they are often called, practice the sport purely for personal enjoyment and many even find a deeper meaning through involving themselves directly with naturally-occurring wave patterns and subscribe to ecological philosophies, or ecosophies. Surf culture includes the people language fashion and life surrounding the sport of modern Surfing. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Ecosophy, and ecophilosophy, are Neologisms formed by contracting the phrase ecological philosophy. While often classified as a sport, surfing is also considered a lifestyle and to a lesser extent a religion.

On September 2, 2007 in Brazil, 84 surfers (from Australia, South Africa, Portugal, Britain and the US, to beat the former record of 73 surfers on a wave) caught the same wave. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld But while 300 turned up in Cornwall and Cape Town, the Brazilian waxheads won. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the With only 120 people, surfers in Santos, south-east of Sao Paulo, smashed the South African record. São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa ^[2]

Maneuvers

A surfer in Santa Cruz, California

Surfing begins with the surfer eyeing a rideable wave on the horizon and then attempting to match its speed (by paddling or sometimes, by tow-in). California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Once the wave has started to carry the surfer forward, the surfer quickly jumps to his or her feet and proceeds to ride down the face of the wave, generally staying just ahead of the breaking part (white water) of the wave (in a place often referred to as "the pocket" or "the curl"). A common problem for beginners is not even being able to catch the wave in the first place, and one sign of a good surfer is being able to catch a difficult wave that other surfers cannot.

Surfing in Hawaii

Surfers' skills are tested not only in their ability to control their board in challenging conditions and/or catch and ride challenging waves, but also by their ability to execute various maneuvers such as turning and carving. Some of the common turns have become recognizable tricks such as the "cutback" (turning back toward the breaking part of the wave), the "floater" (riding on the top of the breaking curl of the wave), and "off the lip" (banking off the top of the wave). A newer addition to surfing has been the progression of the "air" where a surfer is able to propel oneself off the wave and re-enter. Some of these maneuvers are now executed to extreme degrees, as with off-the-lips where a surfer over-rotates his turn and re-enters backward, or airs done in the same fashion, recovering either with re-rotation or continuing the over-rotation to come out with his nose forward again.

"Tube riding" is when a surfer maneuvers into a position where the wave curls over the top of him or her, forming a "tube" (or "barrel"), with the rider inside the hollow cylindrical portion of the wave. This difficult and sometimes dangerous procedure is arguably the most coveted and sought after goal in surfing.

"Hanging Ten" and "Hanging Five" are moves usually specific to longboarding. Hanging Ten refers to having both feet on the front end of the board with all ten of the surfer's toes off the edge, also known as noseriding. Toes are the digits of the Foot of an animal Many animal species such as Cats walk on their toes and are described as being Digitigrade Noseriding is the art of standing on the front of a (longboard Surfboard. Hanging Five is having just one foot near the front, and five toes off the edge. Toes are the digits of the Foot of an animal Many animal species such as Cats walk on their toes and are described as being Digitigrade

Common terms

• Regular/Natural foot - Right foot on back of board
• Goofy foot - Left foot on back of board
• Take off - the start of a ride
• Drop in - dropping into (engaging) the wave, most often as part of standing up
• Drop in on, cut off, or "burn" - taking off on a wave in front of someone closer to the peak (considered inappropriate)
• Duck dive - pushing the board underwater, nose first, and diving through an oncoming wave instead of riding it
• Snaking/Back-Paddling - paddling around someone to get into the best position for a wave (in essence, stealing it)
• Pop-up - Going from lying on the board to standing, all in one jump
• Bottom turn - the first turn at the bottom of the wave
• Shoulder - the unbroken part of the wave
• Cutback - a turn cutting back toward the breaking part of the wave
• Fade - on take off, aiming toward the breaking part of the wave, before turning sharply and surfing in the direction the wave is breaking towards
• Over the falls - When a surfer falls and the wave carries him in a circular motion with the lip of the wave, also referred to as the "wash cycle", being "pitched over" and being "sucked over" because the wave can suck the surfer off of the bottom and draw him or her "over the falls. "
• Pump - an up/down carving movement that generates speed along a wave
• Stall - slowing down by shifting weight to the tail of the board or putting a hand in the water
• Floater - riding up on the top of the breaking part of the wave, and coming down with it
• Hang-five/hang-ten - putting five or ten toes respectively over the nose of a longboard
• Hang Heels - Facing backwards and putting the surfers' heels over the edge of a longboard.
• Re-entry - hitting the lip vertically and re-rentering the wave in quick succession.
• Switch-foot - having equal ability to surf regular foot or goofy foot (i. e. left foot forward or right foot forward) -- like being ambidextrous
• Tube riding/Getting barreled - riding inside the hollow curl of a wave
• Carve - turns (often accentuated)
• Pearl - accidentally driving the nose of the board underwater, generally ending the ride
• Off the Top - a turn on the top of a wave, either sharp or carving
• Snap - a quick, sharp turn off the top of a wave
• Fins-free snap (or "fins out") - a sharp turn where the fins slide off the top of the wave
• Air/Aerial - riding the board briefly into the air above the wave, landing back upon the wave, and continuing to ride. Cross-dominance, also known as mixed- Handedness, mixed dominance, or hand-confusion, is a Motor skill manifestation where a person
• Grom/Grommet - young surfer (usually under 15 or so)

Equipment

Waxing a surfboard

Surfing can be done on various pieces of equipment, including surfboards, bodyboards, wave skis, kneeboards and surf mat. Surfboards were originally made of solid wood and were generally quite large and heavy (often up to 12 feet long and 100 pounds / 45 kg). Surfboards are elongated platforms used in the sport of Surfing. Lighter balsa wood surfboards (first made in the late 1940s and early 1950s) were a significant improvement, not only in portability, but also in increasing maneuverability on the wave.

Most modern surfboards are made of polyurethane foam (with one or more wooden strips or "stringers"), fiberglass cloth, and polyester resin. An emerging surf technology is an epoxy surfboard, which are stronger and lighter than traditional fiberglass. Surfboards are elongated platforms used in the sport of Surfing. Even newer surfboard designs incorporate materials such as carbon fiber and springy 'firewire'.

An 11-foot long board

Equipment used in surfing includes a leash (to stop a surfer's board from washing to shore after a "wipeout", and to prevent it from hitting other surfers), surf wax and/or traction pads (to keep a surfer's feet from slipping off the deck of the board), and "fins" (also known as "skegs") which can either be permanently attached ("glassed-on") or interchangeable. Surfboard wax (also known as surfwax) is a formulation of natural and synthetic Wax for application to the deck of a Surfboard, Bodyboard, or In warmer climates swimsuits, surf trunks or boardshorts are worn, and occasionally rash guards; in cold water surfers can opt to wear wetsuits, boots, hoods, and gloves to protect them against lower water temperatures. Boardshorts are a style of men's and recently women's Swimwear that have long been associated with such aquatic sports as Surfing and Wakeboarding A rash guard also known as a rash vest is a type of athletic Shirt made of Spandex and Nylon or Polyester. A wetsuit is a protective garment used for watersports such as Scuba diving, Surfing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, and Triathlon

There are many different surfboard sizes, shapes, and designs in use today. Modern longboards, generally 9 to 10 feet in length, are reminiscent of the earliest surfboards, but now benefit from all the modern innovations of surfboard shaping and fin design.

The modern shortboard began its life in the late 1960s evolving up to today's common "thruster" style shortboard, a three fin design, usually around 6 to 7 feet in length.

Midsize boards, often called funboards, provide more maneuverability than a longboard, with more floatation than a shortboard. While many surfers find that funboards live up to their name, providing the best of both surfing modes, others are critical. "It is the happy medium of mediocrity," writes Steven Kotler. "Funboard riders either have nothing left to prove or lack the skills to prove anything. "^[3]

There are also various niche styles, such as the "Egg", a longboard-style short board, the "Fish", a short and wide board with a split tail and two or four fins, and the "Gun", a long and pointed board specifically designed for big waves.

Dangers

Drowning

Surfing, like all water sports, carries the inherent danger of drowning. Drowning is Death as caused by suffocation when a liquid causes interruption of the body's absorption of oxygen from the air leading to Asphyxia. Although a surfboard may assist a surfer in staying buoyant, it cannot be relied on for floatation, as it can be separated from the user. In Physics, buoyancy ( BrE IPA: /ˈbɔɪənsi/ is the upward Force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is ^[4] The use of a leash, which is attached at the ankle or knee, keeps the surfer connected to the board for convenience but should not be used as a safeguard to prevent drowning. The established rule is that if the surfer cannot handle the water conditions without his or her board then he or she should not go in. Drownings have occurred as a result of leashes becoming caught on reefs holding the surfer underwater. In very large waves such as Waimea or Mavericks being attached to the board may be undesirable as it can be pulled for long distances in the whitewater, holding the surfer underneath the wave. Surfers will often surf in pairs or groups as a safeguard. Safeguard is a tool used by a state to restrain International trade to protect a certain home industry from foreign competition

Collisions

A surfer out of the board

Anything that a surfer's body can come in contact with may be dangerous. This includes sand bars, rocks, and reefs. ^[5] Collisions with these objects may cause unconsciousness or even death.

Many surfers jump off rocks, wharves and other structures to reach the surf. If the timing is wrong they can either hurt themselves or their equipment. ^[6]

A large number of injuries, up to 66%,^[7] are caused by impact of either a surfboard nose or fins with the surfer's body. Surfboard fins can cause deep lacerations and cuts as well as bruising due to their shape. While these injuries can be minor, they can open the skin to infection from the sea; groups like SAS campaign for cleaner waters to reduce this risk. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS is an environmental and health pressure group based in St Agnes Cornwall, UK.

Sea life

Various types of sea life can cause injuries and even fatalities. Marine biology is the scientific study of living Organisms in the Ocean or other marine or Brackish bodies of water Depending on the location of the surfing activity, animals such as sharks, stingrays and jellyfish may be a danger to surfers. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Dasyatidae is a family of rays, cartilaginous marine Fishes related to Skates and Sharks Dasyatids are common in tropical Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. They have several different basic morphologies that represent several different cnidarian classes including the ^[8]

Local surfers

Local surfers can be violent when it comes to protecting their surf break from tourists or outside surfers. Some surfers have been known to form gangs that surf in a certain break or beach and fiercely protect their "territory" from outsiders. These surfers are often referred to as "surf punks" or "surf nazis. " The local surfer gangs in Malibu and on Hawaii, known as Da hui, have been known to threaten tourists with physical violence for invading their territory. Malibu is an incorporated city in western Los Angeles County, California, United States. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the

See also

• Surf zone
• World Championship Tour (WCT)
• History of surfing
• Surf forecasting
• World surfing champion
• ASP World Tour
• Surf culture
• Surf music
• Surf lifesaving, SLSC and nippers
• List of surfing topics
• List of surfing areas
• List of surfers
• Ocean wave
• Triple Crown of Surfing
• Duke Kahanamoku
• River surfing
• Lake surfing

References