Surfer's Health

Sewage spills, wayward surf boards, aggressive locals, another cold and, oh was that a shark? The question to ask, “is surfing safe?” A prospective study in the January, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Sport Medicine conducted at surf contests noted that 13 injuries occurred per 1000 hours surfed and an injury was 2 1⁄2 times more likely to occur in overhead waves or at breaks with rock bottoms. Lacerations, contusions, sprains/strains, and fractures are the most common types of acute injuries. What about the other long-term issues like skin cancer, surfer’s ear, even heart ache when the wife leaves you for skipping out on breakfast one too many times. Is surfing safe? Negotiating this question with humor is the point of this sometimes regular review of surfing woes.