Nederlands | English | Deutsch | Türkçe

Project Sports

Questions and answers about sports

How many surfers have died surfing?

4 min read

Asked by: Nicole Carstens

Although there is no concrete data on the exact number of people who have died while surfing, the number is estimated to be no more than 10 per year– which in a world of approximately 23 million surfers, is startlingly low.

What is the death rate of surfing?

Statistically, there are around 10 surfing deaths every year. However, the number of injuries per surfer is lower than the surfing industry statistics suggest. Contact with another surfer causes about 0.26 deaths every year.

Has anyone ever died from surfing?

Sion Milosky
It was a career that was unfortunately cut short, when he was held under for two giant waves at Mavericks in 2011, and failed to surface. His body was found nearly a mile away from the break sometime later.

How many people died from big wave surfing?

Research shows that 2.36 per 100,000 surf beachgoers (surfers, swimmers, and other visitors who participate in other water sports) drown annually in an area.

Where have the most people died surfing?

Hawaii still is the most dangerous region in the world when it comes to dying while surfing. In particular, Oahu’s North Shore claimed a few lives.

How safe is surfing?

Surfing is not safe. It’s completely dangerous. There are many elements that you can’t control or predict, and it takes perseverance and commitment to learn to surf well.

Do surfers live longer?

Those who were regular sunbathers tended to live longer than those who were not. They had lower incidences of heart disease and non-heart disease/ non-cancer related deaths. Proportionally, this increased the rate of deaths by cancer, yet overall sunbathers had a longer life expectancy.

Has anyone died surfing Jaws?

They fell from the sky, some with their boards and some without, in a vulgar display of possibly the worst wipeouts in the history of the sport. Despite so many people saying to themselves, ‘jesusfuckenchrist there is no way anybody could survive that’ as they watched it all go down, no one died.

Do surfers drown often?

Although there is no concrete data on the exact number of people who have died while surfing, the number is estimated to be no more than 10 per year– which in a world of approximately 23 million surfers, is startlingly low.

Do big wave surfers wear life vests?

Big wave surfers do not use automatic inflatable life jackets. They use manual inflation vests activated by hand and require the surfer to pull a tab to inflate the equipment.

What wave has killed the most surfers?

Pipeline, Hawaii
The data is irrefutable. Pipeline has killed more surfers than anywhere. Since 1989 it has taken the lives of seven surfers, and threatened the lives of countless others.

Are surfers scared of sharks?

A majority of surfers are accustomed to answering the question, “Aren’t you afraid of sharks?” when talking to a non-surfer about their lifestyle. Several surfers that I’ve met over the years, in fact, are worried they’ll become a meal when they’re out in the lineup. These fears are largely unfounded and risks are low.

How do surfers avoid drowning?

Remember that rip currents will not pull you underwater, only out to sea. So keep your head above water and ride the current until its power fades. Once the rip current has dissipated, swim at a diagonal angle back to shore to avoid being dragged back in. Draw attention to yourself.

What to do if a wave breaks on you?

STAYING CALM WHEN A WAVE BREAKS ON YOU

  1. DON’T GAS YOURSELF OUT. If you’re in the impact zone, paddling like a maniac, hyperventilating and gasping for breath already, chances are you’re not going to be very calm when a big wave breaks right on you. …
  2. BREATH OUT BEFORE YOU BREATH IN. …
  3. FLIP THE SCRIPT. …
  4. KNOW YOUR RANGE.

When should you not surf?

Health experts believe people should avoid surfing or swimming in the sea for at least 72 hours following a rainfall because they will expose themselves to diseases and infections. A few hours after a major precipitation event, the ocean water becomes a paradise for E.