Do you wear Helmet while Surfing?

[Dave S]

I am new to surfing and still trying to figure it out. So far, I am the only one has surfed behind our boat, still learning how to surf and trying to tell people how to drive while surfing. Kelly (my wife) tells me that I am getting to close to the boat as my board goes over the swim deck when I come down the wave.

She is afraid if I fall forward that I could hit the boat transom with my head. That is why she wants me to wear a helmet.

I have read a lot of discussion about helmets but do not recall seeing anything about wearing a helmet while surfing.

Do you wear a helmet while surfing? Does your board ever occasionally hover over the swim deck?

[jbort]

no hovering or swimdeck here - u might be a little too close and getting the hang of it comes with practice. Its certainly better to be safe than sorry so maybe not a bad idea. Surfing typically is done at kinda slow speed so impacts are reduced for water - but that won't help if u take a header into the back of your boat. In the end its up to you. Got any pics of the wave cause maybe u r too close due to wave setup. Ballast? Ya certainly got the right boat for surfing. my 2 cents

[rmason256]

no helmets here. I have been more worried about hitting the boat with the board when newbees are falling back and shooting the board at the boat. Maybe your pocket or sweet spot is to close to the boat. Try increasing your speed or more weight in the bow. That should make the pocket longer.

[Timmy!]

No helmets here but I have been smacked in the eye with the surfboard after a crash, swelled my eye completely shut!

[somebodyelse5]

Sounds like your not going fast enough. What speed are you running?

I know on our boat, there is a speed that makes the wave look real nice, but it forms way to close to the boat. I didnt think it was surfable lol.

Try speeds around 10.5-11 mph depending on your ballast and taps. More weight=more speed. Taps at about 5 or 6 works best for us.

[LovinPowell]

Currently we are not wearing helmets but are considering it to be mandatory, as there are times when the board will shoot up in the air and sometimes land too close for comfort to the downed surfer in the water. This especially happens with our butter board. I tell everyone to cover their heads when they fall.

One time as I was falling forward, I put my hand out to push away from the swim deck. IMHO you would need a facemask more than a helmet.

[somebodyelse5]

Currently we are not wearing helmets but are considering it to be mandatory, as there are times when the board will shoot up in the air and sometimes land too close for comfort to the downed surfer in the water. This especially happens with our butter board. I tell everyone to cover their heads when they fall.

One time as I was falling forward, I put my hand out to push away from the swim deck. IMHO you would need a facemask more than a helmet.

I just stay under water more a bit when I fall, and then come up with my hand over my head.

[Dave S]

Thanks for the tips and info. I will try to remember the camera this weekend. I haven't been surfing for a number of weeks but hope to break out the surfboard again this weekend.

I think we were going about 8 which seems to be way slow from what you say.

[rmason256]

NP. We run the speed set at 10.6 but its diff for every boat. Just gotta play with it.

Thanks for the tips and info. I will try to remember the camera this weekend. I haven't been surfing for a number of weeks but hope to break out the surfboard again this weekend.

I think we were going about 8 which seems to be way slow from what you say.

[wallacmc]

I think we were going about 8 which seems to be way slow from what you say.

yeah, that's pretty slow. At least kick it up to ten andyou will have a noticeable difference. You'll be more comfortable, as well as your wife.

[somebodyelse5]

Thanks for the tips and info. I will try to remember the camera this weekend. I haven't been surfing for a number of weeks but hope to break out the surfboard again this weekend.

I think we were going about 8 which seems to be way slow from what you say.

yup what they said.
what boat do you have? weight set up?

get to ten and then start bumping it up. you will find what you like. you dont want the water too soft(slow) if your just carving but you want the water harder (faster) for airs and most other tricks.

[LovinPowell]

we range from 10.2 to 11.5 depending on the weight and skill of the person riding.

[wallacmc]

Do you guy think that the heavier the rider the faster or slower?

[somebodyelse5]

Do you guy think that the heavier the rider the faster or slower?

It could be argued both ways....but I would keep it the same. Its all about the skill of the rider. If its a really big guy, you need a bigger board and the same speed.

220lb guy is almost freesurfing a 5'5" LF Venture at about 10.7......he should have it down by next week! It really is all about rider, because we have a 270lb guy come with me who just leans back, no way he will freesurf unless he tries.

[LovinPowell]

Do you guy think that the heavier the rider the faster or slower?

My experience is that I need to have the boat going a little bit slower than when my children are surfing. My kids ride at around 11 to 11.5 mph the heaviest child being about 150. I have them slow the boat down to around 10.3 - 10.5 and I can stay in the pocket much easier. We are all using the same board, so that may have something to do with it, because when I use a board that will support more weight I can stay in the pocket at the 11 mph range.

I also am a firm believer in the theory that the heavier you are, the smaller the sweet spot is, and the less margin for error. For example, if I dip the nose underwater, it is much harder for me to recover and stay in than it is for my kids.