Helping someone out in the water

[kook99]

hey i’m just wondering what I should do if i’m on a short board and someone gets into trouble out in the water like they lose their board and are struggling to swim i’ve helped people loads while on a longboard where i can get them on the board with me but never a short board

[oldmansurfer]

What you should do depends on their need and your ability. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation requiring someone else saving you. Make sure you tell them they need to learn how to swim before they learn how to surf so they don’t risk others lives who have to go save them. When I was on a short board I would just let the other person use my board and swim along pushing them in

[kook99]

Thanks this helps a lot

[oldmansurfer]

Depending on the situation you might turn the board sideways and both of you flutter kick and push the board in. This way some one else might come help you and take the other person off your hands or if your both in reasonable shape and the conditions and currents aren't too bad this might work to get in. Lifeguards would use the board like a flotation device and give it to the person who needs it. however if that's going to make it difficult for you to get back to shore then don't do that. If they are in reasonable shape you might let them hold your leash and tow them in just make sure they pull on the board and not your leg (I haven't ever done this) Also I never told anyone to learn how to swim but pretty sure they weren't going to try whatever they did again. but in my old age I have gotten crottechy LOL so might do that these days

[IanCaio]

As OMS said, always guarantee your own safety when helping someone else, or it can go from 1 person drowning to 2 very quickly.

The few times I had to help someone in the water, I try to approach them with my board between the two of us, so they can grab the board and not me. Getting to them without an obstacle between you two is more dangerous, because they can panic and pull you down.

Bringing the person to sand with a shortboard is harder, sometimes other people will jump in to help and there might be a longboarder around, so your job will be mostly reaching the person, helping them float and catch their breath and calm them down. But if you do have to bring them to sand, I usually let them go on top of the board, tell them to paddle and hold it tight when waves hit and go swimming behind them. I keep the leash attached, even though it creates a lot of drag, because then you have something keeping you close to them and you don't risk the person letting the board go and you two losing this aid.

Most times I experienced this type of situation the swell wasn't that big (probably 3ft hawaiian tops), probably because people are a little more cautious when they see the ocean very agitated. It can get more complicated if the swell is bigger, because the impact zone might be worse, but it's also probable that by the time you reach the person the waves have dragged them to a place where the waves have lost most of their energy.

I'm curious what other people's approach would be on the impact zone of a significant size swell, as in that situation it might be worse to take the wave in the head while on top of the board. In that case I'd probably just tell them to use the board to rest until the set hits, but then tell them to let go and hold my hand as we dive and let the wave drag us slowly to the inside, until they can belly ride the white foam.