Is it safe to surf in rain?

by **jthomas** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:09 pm

Is it safe to surf while its raining? I'm not worried about water spouts where i live :mrgreen:

by **drowningbitbybit** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:51 pm

There's a very similar thread on here about exactly that, so have a search.

I'd say 'yes' but the downsides are:
- Water quality may be an issue if you're surfing near a town.
- You're likely to be surfing with far fewer people, so only go out where you're confident is safe.
- Visibility is decreased.

I surf in the rain all the time

by **jaffa1949** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:31 am

AS for waterspouts! They suck bigtime

by **surf patrol** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:37 am

Here's the surfing in the rain topic

by **cberra** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:40 pm

I heard it is safe to surf in the rain, unless there is dangers of lightening or water spouts, i prefer to surf in sunshine though! good luck

by **Z mann R2** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:21 pm

cberra wrote:I heard it is safe to surf in the rain, unless there is dangers of lightening or water spouts, i prefer to surf in sunshine though! good luck

Lightning isn't a danger.....you're inside the part lightning is striking....it doesn't have to pass through you to get to ground....

by **DogDays2** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:23 pm

Z mann R2 wrote:
cberra wrote:I heard it is safe to surf in the rain, unless there is dangers of lightening or water spouts, i prefer to surf in sunshine though! good luck

Lightning isn't a danger.....you're inside the part lightning is striking....it doesn't have to pass through you to get to ground....

A few years ago a freshman at UNCW was struck by lightning while surfing at Wrightsville Beach

by **jaffa1949** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:11 am

Z mann R2 wrote:
cberra wrote:I heard it is safe to surf in the rain, unless there is dangers of lightening or water spouts, i prefer to surf in sunshine though! good luck

Lightning isn't a danger.....you're inside the part lightning is striking....it doesn't have to pass through you to get to ground....

Not a bet I'd be prepared to take, if you were sitting on your surfboard you'd be the highest object.= zzzzzzzzzt flash :!:

by **Tassiedevil** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:29 am

Hate surfing in the rain you tend to get wet . ( sad attempt at humor ) .

When the wind is not roaring it is magic tends to really calm the surf . Would not get me out in a thunderstorm I reckon you would be the nearest lightning rod to the beach and the electricity should conduct a wet you sitting on water very well .

On a different note a lifesaver I know refuses to go in the water during rain reckons it greatly increases the risk of shark attacks . Unfortunately in Tassie if we did not surf in the rain we wouldn't be doing much surfing so it's a risk I am willing to take

by **billie_morini** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:25 am

I surf in the rain. Why not? Already wet.

About more shark strike in rain: not true

by **Tassiedevil** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:08 pm

That's good to know Billie . I read the western australian government is performing a comprehensive study on the factors that increase the risks of shark attacks eg . Time of day , weather conditions , time of year etc . Will be good to get some scientific facts on shark behaviour something we really have very little understanding of .

Time for me to move onto another topic which is a bit brighter , bit more sunny , bit less overcast and dreary then surfing in the rain .(another sad attempt at humor )

by **jaffa1949** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:51 am

Great surf in the pouring rain today, no sharks ( that we saw), no water spouts, a school of whitebait being chased by penguins, a couple of huge stingrays, and passed 3 car smashes on the way home ( a five minute drive).
Just in today's episode alone = getting to and from the beach is more dangerous than surfing :shock:

The surf was good and crowded, the rain stopped all the tradies from working so they hit the early in case it fined up. 40 in the water, I picked the gentleman's retirement time at 12 when they all went back to work 8 out, surfed 3 hours got out as the afternoon shift arrived, back to 20 out and rising.
School holidays but a lot of the kids are soft and won't surf in the rain so none of them :lol:

experience and cunning wins again

by **eddyjas** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:00 am

rain surfing is amazing and enjoy where there is no shark..

by **skaneverdies** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:05 pm

I know some beaches in central California strongly discourage surfing/swimming/whatever during or after rains. Places like Half Moon Bay contend with pollution issues on a regular basis, and those issues are exacerbated by rain, which causes pollutants to run off into the ocean. I've heard of some people getting sick from this, but I still go out in the rain all the time, to be honest.

by **Oceanshred** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:58 pm

Depends of the storm. I would say its safe enough!

by **petersumpters** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:26 am

Surely its safe as long as not the hard one, You'll able to enjoy both surfing at the same time as rain pours.

by **IB_Surfer** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:48 pm

Depends where. i live by the tijuana river mouth, when it rains it washes down everything that has been stuck in the gutters inlets, like dead cats and old diapers, so no I would not surf in the rain here.

You need to provide your surf location, that way someone that knows can give you the tips on where/when to surf...

by **Big H** » Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:27 am

[quote="Sylvia"]No....in my opinion it is not at all safe to surf at rain.
Because water quality varies and waves may be harsh at that time.
so it is danger to surf at that time.
Only expert surfers can surf at that time .Beginners cannot take a chance at that time and as visisbility will no be clear.

How will an expert avoid the toxins associated with fresh rainfall over anyone else?!?!? Or avoid shark bites vs. a less experienced surfer!?!?!?

Keep your links to yourself Sylv.

by **jaffa1949** » Fri Dec 08, 2017 7:31 am

Fixed, was waiting for the link posting, fixed, cut and paste writing not really helpful for any post.