Surfers have lost lives in the big surf. A new generation of giant wave riders is improving their safety levels, and helping others survive in extreme ocean conditions. How many hazards can you find in the surf? The Big Wave Safety Summit, held on the North Shore of Oahu, alerted us to a wide number of dangerous examples. Some of them we hardly take into consideration when battling the swells. Tides, currents, shore break, rocks, cliffs, reef/coral, fog, smog, kelp, lightning, sharks, power boats, piers, fish nets, floating object, backwash, mud, and chemicals are only a small number of adversities out there in the line-up.

Continued here:
The importance of risk management in big wave surfing

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