Falling Off a Surfboard Safely

The way you fall off your surfboard is very important if you want to avoid serious injury. There are a few tips about falling off that are not just for beginners, all surfers follow these general rules.

1. When falling always try to fall backwards, as this ensures the surfboard continues to the beach and is not in the wave behind you to be pushed on top of you by the wave. Falling backwards also helps us to fall shallow to avoid crashing into the bottom.
   
   
2. While under water, always put your arm around your head as you don't know where your surfboard is.
   
   
3. Always put your hand up first when surfacing for the same reason above, you don't know where your surfboard is and it could be directly above you. The fins are sharp and can leave a nasty gash requiring stitching.
   
   
4. Never Never jump or dive off your board. You don't know when moving along exactly how deep the water is.

Short example of why we never jump- Learning the hard way

A student at a surf school caught a small wave into the beach and jumped off his surfboard, not realising how shallow the water was. He fell to the ground in pain and was taken to the hospital to have a surgical operation to mend his broken leg.