Can anyone give me some tips how to handle an 8 foot wave wiped-out?

Question

The hardest part that I experience is to be able to hold my breath long enough and not to become disoriented during the wiped-out!

I got wiped out last week and I was like a piece of rag cloth tumbling in a washing machine....whewwwww! What a adrenaline-rush, scary experience!

If you have some good tips, please do share!

Answer 1

when you wipe out, try to dive into the wave where its not broken yet, because if you get low enough, it will push you down. when you wipe out, let it take you then once you feel kinda released rush for the top of the water, best advice i can give you, make sure your board is not near you during that wipe out. when i wipe out on a 8 foot wave, i try to look for a opening over or under the wave so i can get behind it, then dive straight down for the bottom pretty much, then keep swimming down.  be safe

Answer 2

Just do your best to endure the wipe out.

Answer 3

dude, u need to relax, surfing is about the enjoyment. if u relax, u can hold ur breath for at least 1 min. i've wiped out on a 14 footer in hawii and held my breath for around 2 minutes

Answer 4

Just take the wave as you would if it were a 3 foot wave, be calm about it because if somethings wrong the lifeguards will be right there to help you out of a scetchy situation. thats what I did 2 weeks ago but I had a different problem. I was pretty for out at my local beach break, and out of no where my calves locked up on me (at the time I was bodyboarding in a 8 to 10 foot swell off of Fire Island NY). It was horrible, I eventually made into shore on a 10 ft wave and even was able to put a little style into my ride (you know a little showing off to all the hotties on the beach). sometimes these type things happen out there and the best thing to do is remain positive, and trust that you can get out of that type of situation.

hope my info helps you out

keep shreeding bro

Answer 5

When you get hit, just relax let the wave do what it has to you, cuase fighting against and 8 foot you dont have much of a chance and fighting to get out of it is gonna take energy if you just stay calm and relax and get up at the end there will be no problem

Answer 6

if you know youre going down, take a deep breath let the wave do what it has to do, close your eyes and just be calm, struggling  will just make the situation worst, if its a heavy wipe youll feel all the pressure and its going to hold you down till its done when you feel that it has calm down make your way to the top

Answer 7

yea like that  guy said just stay calm and make sure you have a good leash otherwise your *ucked

Answer 8

Being calm is only part of it.  Here are some other tips.  Put your hands over your head and get into a small ball if you can.  I also try to bail backwards if I have a chance to react before the wipe out.  Surfers break their necks and/or backs by going down head first and hitting the sand, or even worse, hitting a rock or corral.  I've had a number of rough wipe outs on larger waves when I hit the bottom so hard it knocked the wind out of me.  If you are relaxed and can feel the bottom, put your feet under you and push towards the surface,  If you don't know which way is down, but are relaxed, you will start to float towards the surface.  Then you can swim in that direction.  Otherwise, if it's not too deep, just wait and you will float to the surface.  One piece of advise though, take a quick deep breath when you reach air as you may get hit by another wave and immediately go down again.

Answer 9

4 words. Relax.Tuck and Roll.

Answer 10

I've been through plenty off wipeouts in some of the skechiest places.  Chun's reef, Jocko's marijuanna's gas chambers...

When you get hit bad there's no thinking, curl up in fetal position with hands over your head.  this will protect you from the board, or coral. You may be under for a bit, so once the wave passes by and you find yourself in the whitewater, and have know idea which way is up, reach down to your ankle for your leash, PULL YOUR LEASH TO FIND YOUR BOARD.  Remeber, your board is made of styrofoam, it ALWAYS knows which way is up! This has not failed me once!  even whe I've been down for a solid 10-17 sec.  

now the kicker.  If your caught in a set, and your about to be dumped on again, DIVE DEEP and get under the next wave, your leash will pull, but you will not be put back into the washing machine.  if you get too wiped out then lay on your baord facing away from the wave and take the ride in.  If it's another big wave, then hang on!

Answer 11

stick your arms out and your legs, think like a starfish or something, your extremities will create drag in the water and help to stabilize yourself, erections can be helpful as well...

I like to scream under water too, it helps me get through the experience.

Answer 12

First, if you have any control over your actual fall try to go deep and get below the wave.  You may get dragged by your board but it may help keep you from getting rag dolled.

Relax.  Fighting it or panicking will use up more oxygen.

Remember that you can actually hold your breathe for a lot longer than it feels at the time.  Figure the average wipe pout maybe takes 5-10 seconds.  If you're in any kind of shape you should be able to hold your breath for a heck of a lot longer than that.

My biggest panic moments have come when I first pop up after a good wipe out and I'm in foamy water and can't float any more and getting ready to take another one on the head.  Scary?  Yes!!  Actually dangerous?  Probably not.  Learning to relax takes a lot of time learn.