The worst that can happen to you in the surf (it’s not what you think it is)

Honestly, you deserve a medal.🏅 Or at least a hug for putting yourself out there. Because surfing is not like gardening. Bad things can happen. So let’s just tackle this head on.

Here’s a non-definitive list of the very worst things that can happen to you in the water.

🦈 SHARKS, yep, they are out there. If you surf in Hawaii, chances are a shark has come pretty close to you, and you didn’t even know it. Dare, we mention 🐊? Unlikely, but it’s possible to encounter a croc around Tamarindo, Costa Rica and Australia’s Northern Territory.

🤕 Head injury by KAYAK. You can observe this fierce rivalry between surfers and surf kayakers in the UK, specifically in Wales and Cornwall. Just keep in mind: they wear helmets, you don’t.

🔪 Surfboard FIN CUTS. If you’ve never seen a fin embedded in someone’s thigh or slicing right through your brand new board, consider yourself lucky. Those things get razor-sharp when they start flying.

🤮 TUMMY ISSUES, anyone? Science says that surfers are 3x more likely to have antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria in their guts. As this is an unavoidable fact of surf life, avoid undercooked chicken and always wash your hands after pooping 😜

🦵 Sprained and BROKEN ANKLES, fibulas, calcaneus bones. All it takes is one weird step on (or off) your board. And not just in the water. One of the GWCSG girls confesses: “I fractured my hip just standing at the shore waiting to go in.” Harsh.

🪸 CORAL SCARS. Coral is razor-sharp, slow to heal, and loves leaving a “souvenir” in your wound. Wear your coral scar like a badge! You surfed near a live coral reef! Which, unfortunately, might not be a thing in 20 years.

AND NOW… TAAAAADAAA—THE WORST THING!

😡 GETTING TOLD OFF in the lineup. We all know the feeling. 🤬💔😭 Whether it was totally fair or just a case of kooksplaining (yep, that’s our next Word of the Week), it stings. Almost makes taking a kayak to the head sound preferable. (Almost!)

🚨 So is surfing actually dangerous? Yep, it can be. So let’s stay safe and watch out for each other. Because it is SO worth it 🌊