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Cuts, collisions and concussions

Among surfers who reported injuring someone else, nearly half of the incidents – 48% – were linked to collisions caused by crowding or difficulty seeing others in the water.

Fin-related cuts – or “fin chops”, in surfers’ parlance – were the most frequently reported injury, accounting for 28% of responses among surfers who said they'd injured someone, ranging from minor cuts to deeper wounds requiring stitches.

Other incidents involved the surfboard striking someone during a wipeout or manoeuvre, accounting for 15% of responses. A further 14% described head injuries or concussions caused by a surfboard striking another person.

“If someone is knocked unconscious in the water, the risk changes straight away,” Dr Tran said. “A head injury in the surf can quickly become a drowning risk.”

Still on their L-plates

Dr Tran said the findings reflected the realities of an increasingly popular sport.

“Participation in surfing has been growing, particularly since the pandemic,” he said. “As more people enter the water at popular breaks, with varying levels of experience, the chances of collisions and other incidents can increase.”

Surfing is one of Australia’s most popular coastal activities, with more than 490,000 Australians aged over 15 taking part.

Co-author Dr Amy Peden, from 91ɫ��Ƭ’s School of Population Health, said more people taking up the sport increased the chances of accidental collisions.

“Inexperience is likely a factor in some cases, so we need to balance participation, and the positives of that, with ensuring safety,” she said.

Surf rage

Perhaps encouraged by the anonymity of the survey, some respondents admitted to retaliatory behaviour that caused injury to others.

“For the most part the collisions were accidental and often due to crowding or visibility issues,” Dr Peden said. “Although rare, disputes over surf etiquette were reported to sometimes escalate into deliberate acts of violence.

“While the survey data doesn’t differentiate whether these incidents involved other surfers or swimmers, conflicts in the surf can, and do, occur between surfers competing for the same wave.”

Back to surf school

The researchers say education around surf safety and etiquette could help reduce injuries to others in the water, such as guidance on spatial awareness and understanding who has priority on a wave.

While many surf schools already teach these principles, the researchers say broader awareness campaigns could help reach recreational surfers who learn informally or surf outside organised programs.

“These incidents are preventable, particularly with better awareness of surf etiquette and how to manage your board in busy conditions,” Dr Peden said.

Injury reporting

The study also highlights a gap in injury reporting systems.

While injuries to surfers themselves are sometimes captured in hospital or emergency department data, incidents where surfers injure other people are rarely recorded in official statistics.

As a result, the true frequency of these events is difficult to estimate.

The researchers say improving injury reporting could help coastal safety organisations better understand the risks in surf zones and develop targeted prevention strategies.

Understanding how and why these incidents occur may also help beach managers consider how surf zones are managed at busy beaches where multiple water users share space.

“Injuries happen because the surf can be crowded, chaotic, and fast-moving,” Dr Tran says.

“A split second of inattention can cause a concussion or a deep fin cut. As more Australians take up surfing, we need clear messaging about how to keep yourself, and others, safe in the surf.”

The findings are drawn from the Global Surfer Survey, an international study exploring surfers’ experiences, safety behaviours and views on coastal safety.