I have a gath helmet that I use for real big shallow surf...never really thought about using one on the SUP....has saved my ass a few times judging from the chips all over it...reduces hearing a bit and can make you head feel a bit floaty when duck diving...a good investment but should be banned from beach breaks

Never been injured in the surf but I'm thinking about getting a longer leggie after my board gave me a little kiss on the noggin.

SUP surfing definitely causes more body-board-paddle impacts than regular surfing. My most annoying has been fingers jammed between paddle shaft and board. Ouch! (Even worse is that was caused by a succession of frankenstein monster falls from cross-chop standing out the back on the Naish 9'6").

Grrr Oliver,nasty,You can alway's tell the folks on the train you should see the other ten blokes who tried to jump me!

PS, I think you should rest up and take the rest of the week off!

mac

Thats bad luck oliver, but always good to get your first surf injury out of the way means you were going hard, I have a had a run of getting whacked on the head while surfing my shortboard on my back hand in sucky waves.
Also near had my eye ripped out when a kook dropped in on me about 15 yrs ago and got around 30 stitches

I dont wear a helmet, but a few of my mates do and a Gath is the only way to go.

I thought I was in all sorts of trouble today when I got a set wave at our beach break (well over head high and sucky) I took off did a big bottom turn, a few big fading s turns and then started looking at the close out section approaching, I went to do a big late kick out and instead got sucked down the mineshaft landing on my board sideways. It knocked the wind out of me, and I got caught inside for the next 5 minutes On the way down I thought here is a shirt full of broken ribs for sure Lucky it just put my neck & back out. Surf was excellent here this morning, solid and clean

Yeeeooowwww!!...That looks nasty Oliver...Did any brains fall out?.. ...Is the board ok?..

Check out the helmets in SHQ and RPS..There are some great helmets out there now.

Just don't go buying a StackHat or you'll be paddling by yourself..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/STACKHAT-STACK-HAT-vintage-retro-bmx-helmet-RAD_W0QQitemZ250338881256QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Cycling_Clothing?hash=item250338881256

DJ

aus301 said...

I wore a Gath for a short period of time - mainly when I was learning forwards windsurfing. Funny thing about it was I am sure I got far more knocks to the head with the Gath on than I ever got without it.

Yeah I found the same thing..I was wearing a Gath for a while and bumped my head heaps with it on but rarely bumped my head without it.

I agree with Brooko.. Gath is the way to go.. Make sure it's a firm fit..Not too loose and not too tight.

DJ

stuey c said...

Bad luck Oliver ol' mate! Just part of the game though. Over the years surfins' given me, in no particular order........7 stitches to the right ankle.
5 stitches near right eye.
Broken left ankle
Broken jaw
5 teeth knocked out
6 stitches to the forehead
8 external 10 internal stitches to a gash in the cheek (face)

All from riding a shortboard, ** happens. Probably be dead if I was on a Sup.............

Thanks Stuey for making me feel so much better. I guess you and surfing mustn't agree. Thats a lots of facial/head injuries - which I reckon are the worst. I remember snapping my front tooth in half once - I was in agony and there is basically nothing you can do to relieve the pain.

Casso said...

I've never got stitches or broken a bone in my 30 years of surfing - I mustn't be pushing it hard enough!

From what I've seen you push it pretty hard Casso, you may just be lucky. Unlike what happed to this guy today: www.theage.com.au/national/kitesurfer-peels-off-half-his-face-20081209-6uml.html

Oliver,

I think it makes sense to do what you can to minimize the risk while you are leaning. I have not had any serious injuries, but I have had a couple of near misses which have given me a fright.

I read that article on the kiteboarder. That is at my local beach, I windsurf and SUP there. The wind would have been dead onshore and if the tide was in, the beach can get narrow so there is not much room for error.

Steve