How do you surf shallow reef?
How to Surf (and Wipeout) at Reef Breaks Safely
- Spend time understanding the wave and entry/exit points.
- Stick to the shoulder.
- Wear reef booties.
- Protect your fingers when you duck dive.
- Practice removing your leash.
- Never jump off the wave head first.
- Use the ball-and-starfish method.
- Stay calm.
How do you wipeout on the reef?
During the wipeout, don’t try to break your fall with arms or legs extended forward. Instead, fall flat and roll face up, with arms and legs spread-eagled wide and held parallel to the body. This will keep you as close to the surface — and thus as far from the reef — as possible.
What happens when a surfer wipeout?
In this type of wipeout, the surfer gets sucked back over to the top of a wave and free falls with the lip which is the powerful part of the wave. There is a great likelihood of hitting the reef or the ocean floor in an ‘Over the Falls’ wipeout.
How do you stay calm while surfing?
Begin by crouching down, feet shoulder-width apart and hug your knees. Then stand up straight, taking a deep breath in and raise your arms above your head as you go. Breath out slowly as you crouch down again, bringing your arms down with you and repeat 10 times. This will help you to focus and enjoy your session.
How shallow are reef breaks?
In between 2nd and 3rd Reef the Reef drops from about 15-20ft deep to about 30-40ft deep. When it hits the end of the rocky point shoal, the wave picks up dramatically setting a wave breaking to about 10ft of water. Once the wave reforms, it hits first reef. This wave starts to really break at around 10-12ft.
What happens if you get caught in a big wave?
In a big wave wipeout, a breaking wave can push surfers down 20 to 50 feet (6.2 m to 15.5 m) below the surface. Strong currents and water action at those depths can also slam a surfer into a reef or the ocean floor, which can result in severe injuries or even death.