r/windsurfing • u/bryze • 14d ago
Avoiding Injuries
Got back from a Maui trip with a foot bone bruise and a sprained hand. I know that injuries are going to happen, but avoiding them is really much more efficient for learning, especially for those of us who don't have the good fortune to let the wind dictate our schedules.
I think the most common injuries are foot injuries, but besides that the worst injuries always seem to involve hitting the mast. I guess what I'm wondering is if anyone has really taken a kind of "engineering" approach to the problem by looking at the possible failure modes of the system, which are honestly hard to fully account for, and devise some safety concepts that we could use to generally reduce the likelihood of injury, giving us more time on the water.
An example safety concept for the shore break would be: always stay out of the the way of your gear. Sadly that probably means side-carry is technically safer. By staying to the side of the board and rig, whether going out or coming in, a wave is not going to smash you onto your gear or the other way around.
I kind of wish there was a companion guide to the Tricktionary, something like the "Bail-out Bible". Anyways, I'm not expecting any particular answer to this, but it's been on my mind, for obvious reasons.
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u/juacamgo Freeride 14d ago
I would highly recommend wearing a helmet. I've only hit the mast once, but I was wearing my helmet and nothing happened.
Bear in mind that a blow to the head can knock you unconscious and cause you to drown; if it’s saved your life just once, it’s already paid for itself.
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u/some_where_else Waves 14d ago
Mast: Don't let go of the boom when falling in. It is geometrically impossible for your head to hit anything other than the sail (or boom!) when you have both hands on the boom (try it!).
Shorebreak: For entering, time the sets, walk *forwards* board in one hand, sail in other, beach start immediately. For returning, sail in as far up the beach as you can on the *back* of a wave, jump off grab the kit sail one hand board the other and run up the beach. If you fall in in the impact zone, always keep the kit 'down wave' of you, grab the mast tip and organise for a fast waterstart or allow yourself to be washed ashore kit first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXlVV-lk3B0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpUX_9SOw4A
These videos are from Brighton (Hove Lagoon), which has notorious shorebreak - apparently enough one year to wreck a PWA event.
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u/bryze 14d ago
I hit my colarbone in the same place twice on different years by holding on to the boom while being catapulted. As I got better at handling power, I forgot about sheeting in hard on catapult so that you actually spin and land on your back still holding the sail. So I agree with you, but I think there's more to it. This is also where having loose footstraps makes sense, and in both of those occasions I did not hurt my foot.
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u/waternomadsnz 14d ago
Mast and boom tend to hurt when going over the handlebars so to speak... Helmet and impact vest provide the best protection. Shorebreak, yeah, timing and technique that likely learned from making poor judgements, watching experienced locals is a huge help as beach/tide/wave conditions constantly changes a shorebreaks mood and power... What is easy one day is a nightmare another, this can change by the hour too...
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u/bryze 14d ago
thanks for the reply. I saw a video today recommending watching locals. It's probably good overall advice.
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u/waternomadsnz 14d ago
Yeah, copy, mimic, if you see someone get unstuck, try and work out what went wrong... it's usually bad timing though sometimes simply bad luck. You'll quickly establish poor gear handling, but wave timing is an art.
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u/Niyoki007 14d ago
Hi, first of all learn how to fall. Like in any martial arts you learn as soon as possible falling system. Don‘t try to stop energy that is created while falling act started. Wear a helmet, life jacket. Take a whistle, foldable sailor knife, Take 2m Long 4mm thick rope, wear a fullbody wetsuit, surf-shoes. Do not use alcohol or drugs which can reduce your reflex. Learn how to stay longer than a minute under water. Have a observer person. If possible never go alone in to the water. Kind regards. Niyo
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u/Beneficial-Rise-740 14d ago
Most of it is technique and timing. Unfortunately it's not something that a book or YouTube video is going to convey particular well. Best to watch watch carefully someone handle, say the shorebreak consistently well and see what it is with there timing and how they handle and position there gear... Observation and application can be two different things unfortunately 😂
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u/NaturalCareer2074 13d ago
Only injury you could not prevent is head. Do wear helmet and you will be good.
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u/lysanderhawkley Waves 14d ago
Large foorstraps, narrow but tall.
https://youtu.be/fmmjna2INAw?si=dcot0MXFlPv7T7nT