![]() Just as a wetsuit can help protect you from the coral, a helmet will help protect your head from any serious damage.Īs there is less water to soften your fall, and reefs often suck dry as they break, using a helmet over a shallow reef – especially in big swell – should be something that you consider. When surfing over coral reefs or a rocky floor bed, the chances of lacerations, concussions, and broken bones suddenly become a much higher possibility. Surfing in shallow water greatly increases the dangers of surfing. This is why it is becoming more common each year to see big wave surfers at breaks such as Teahupoo to wear helmets when it comes to competition time. More and more big wave surfers are turning to inflatable life jackets as an added means of safety, and helmets are next on the list. Not only is your hard surfboard and ocean floor a danger, but the immense weight and power of the lip of the wave is enough to give a surfer brain damage. The most common time to see a surfer wearing a helmet is during big wave surfing season.Ī surfer traveling at high speeds whose head collides with their surfboard or the ocean floor can experience loss of consciousness, rupturing of the eardrums, and in severe cases, death. Some situations are more common for surfers to wear helmets, in some of which a helmet is strongly advised. When Do Surfers Wear Helmets?Įven though you do not commonly see surfers wearing helmets, it does not mean there are no good reasons to do so. That being said, it is possible to come across surf schools, camps, and resorts that require or encourage their students to wear headgear while taking lessons from the school. ![]() This is true for both recreational surfers and professionals.Īs surfing is done in water and collisions are mostly avoided, most people do not see a need to wear a helmet while surfing. Are Helmets Required for Surfing?Īs it stands, there are no regulations about surfing with a helmet. That being said, one study conducted in Victoria, Australia, showed that only 1.9% of 646 surfers used headgear on a regular basis.Īlthough this is a very isolated and limited study, by pure observation it is clear that the number of surfers that wear helmets is in the single-digit percentile range. It is when you are surfing over a dry reef or on a rocky break with powerful waves that a helmet begins to have a purpose.īecause not many surfers wear helmets (which includes the big wave surfers that should be wearing them), there are no global statistics showing how many surfers make use of these hard hats. Most surfers do not use a helmet because they do not see much benefit in it, and in some way they are right. In fact, it is so uncommon that most surfers may never come across another surfer with a helmet on. Wearing a helmet while surfing is not a common practice. Are There Special Helmets Made for Surfing?ĭisclosure: this post contains affiliate links (clearly marked with ), which means we may earn a commission if you buy something through them, at no additional cost to you. ![]() 4 Downsides of Wearing a Helmet When Surfing.The Benefits of Wearing a Helmet for Surfing.There are many benefits to wearing a helmet while surfing, as well as a few downsides.īelow we will discuss these pros and cons, when it may be a good idea to wear a helmet while surfing, and which helmets you should be using. Helmets are a lot more common for big wave surfers and those who have previous head injuries. It is not common to see surfers wearing helmets when you paddle out at a popular local break.īut as the wave size increases and the water gets shallower, helmets seem to pop up more often. ![]() ![]() One of the most common injuries received by surfers is a knock to the head.Īlthough not all of these impacts are extreme, in some cases surfing can result in traumas such as brain damage. ![]()
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