Least cool surf injuries

[waikikikichan]

I didn't break my jaw, but i did bruise my chin ( and ego ). I always always use a 3 fin or twin-stabi set up on my longboard. But on this one small wave day, i wanted to experiment with the 9 inch fin i had laying around. I normally leash up, run full speed on the sand and jump into the water and glide out a bit. But this time, I forgot i had and extra 4.5 inches hanging off the bottom. The fin caught on the shore, stopping the board, the momentum slammed my chin into the deck. Saw stars for a bit.

[Tudeo]

the board apparently caught me in the jaw when I was getting tumbled.

I always try to protect my head and face during wipeouts, but this also happened to me some years ago. The rail of my board got me in the cheekbone while being tumbled under water. I felt something crack and was sure it broke the bone. But I was lucky, it was only the rail of the board that was broken. Nice shiner though..

[Big H]

the board apparently caught me in the jaw when I was getting tumbled.

I always try to protect my head and face during wipeouts, but this also happened to me some years ago. The rail of my board got me in the cheekbone while being tumbled under water. I felt something crack and was sure it broke the bone. But I was lucky, it was only the rail of the board that was broken. Nice shiner though..

Jeez....you got a tough face!

[RobSF]

That goes past kook, Big H, past cool, into post-apocalyptic. Relieved to hear you made it through. Sounds like your bank account took quite a hit, too.

[oldmansurfer]

I haven't said anything about your injury BigH but I was shocked to hear of it and hope your recovery will go smoothly. My brother broke his jaw long ago and spent a month and a half or so with his mouth wired so I know what you went through eating with a straw. He broke his jaw doing something stupid ....fighting with a guy and when he knocked him down he jumped on him and started pummeling him on the ground and his friend came up and kicked my brother in the jaw. Where we lived the code was don't hit someone if they are down and so breaking that rule he became fair game for others to join in since the code was also to let 2 guys beef it out and don't help out even if your friend is loosing (but once the fight is over you can start your own fight). I don't suppose it matters that you didn't do anything stupid but at least you didn't do something stupid and got a broken jaw. Get well pal.

[BoMan]

I broke my jaw in a wipeout the end of this past May..

Yikes. Reading that made me feel a whole lot more vulnerable. If it can happen to one of our best, we should all be more careful. That said you can't anticipate everything. In my last sesh a wave broke behind me and the white water pushed me off the desk and onto a submerged rock. The wetsuit absorbed most of the blow but I now have a 6 inch bruise over my ribs. Fortunately I was able to make a flat entry in the water with my feet first.

[jaffa1949]

There is the injury to your pride and valuables when you go too hard on driving a rail and the board decides to go on edge as far up your groin as it can . Knocking nads nastily. The walk up,the beach with crushed nuts not pood

[Big H]

That goes past kook, Big H, past cool, into post-apocalyptic. Relieved to hear you made it through. Sounds like your bank account took quite a hit, too.

100% covered by insurance....I even qualified for a suite at the hospital, private room with a living room area and big flatscreen and the boys from the kitchen at work came up with a full and varied liquid menu of purees in a range of flavors and nutritional values that I had from the day I left ICU so it could have been worse for sure.

[Big H]

I haven't said anything about your injury BigH but I was shocked to hear of it and hope your recovery will go smoothly. My brother broke his jaw long ago and spent a month and a half or so with his mouth wired so I know what you went through eating with a straw. He broke his jaw doing something stupid ....fighting with a guy and when he knocked him down he jumped on him and started pummeling him on the ground and his friend came up and kicked my brother in the jaw. Where we lived the code was don't hit someone if they are down and so breaking that rule he became fair game for others to join in since the code was also to let 2 guys beef it out and don't help out even if your friend is loosing (but once the fight is over you can start your own fight). I don't suppose it matters that you didn't do anything stupid but at least you didn't do something stupid and got a broken jaw. Get well pal.

Yeah....a broken jaw is not a bucket list item for sure....not a lot of fun. Good news is that it was repaired and set well, everything is aligned and healing nicely. All's well that ends well.

[saltydog]

Drove home, took a shower and went to the hospital where I had surgery ...

You make it sounds like you had an appt. for a root canal or something! That was a huge deal. So sorry to hear that. Glad to know you are on the mend and just about back to your normal life including surfing.

[kookRachelle]

I broke my jaw in a wipeout the end of this past May....broken just below the ear and again across the point of the chin, clean through in both spots....happened when the wave I was on closed out and I wiped out and got tumbled.....someething that I've done without incident many times but this time the board apparently caught me in the jaw when I was getting tumbled. Came up and had blood all over the place and had to make my way in from about 250m. Drove home, took a shower and went to the hospital where I had surgery and stayed for a week, 3 days in ICU following the surgery. Not really kooky, just an accident, but thankful that the board did not knock me out. 6 weeks of liquid only diet, 4 weeks of soft foods only that can be swallowed without chewing, 5 broken teeth, two of which required root canals done 10 weeks following since I couldn't open my mouth wide enough until that point. 14 weeks on now and the doctor has cleared me to surf a couple weeks ago (I did sneak out a couple of times) but told me to "take it easy" so its been longboards and small waves on my comeback trail.

Good lord! Winner winner chicken dinner!! Man, I don't even know you personally but I'm so glad you're okay!

[kookRachelle]

100% covered by insurance....I even qualified for a suite at the hospital, private room with a living room area and big flatscreen and the boys from the kitchen at work came up with a full and varied liquid menu of purees in a range of flavors and nutritional values that I had from the day I left ICU so it could have been worse for sure.

Not bad, not bad at all! Having insurance is a MUST!! Don't mean to ever criticize anyone but it's a must, especially when you are into one of the most injury prone sports on the planet!

[BoMan]

Having insurance is a MUST!! Don't mean to ever criticize anyone but it's a must, especially when you are into one of the most injury prone sports on the planet!

According to Property Casualty 360, here are the top 20 sports that cause the most injuries based on emergency room visits in the United States, along with percentage of injuries by age group for each sport:

http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2016/04/25/20-sports-that-cause-the-most-injuries?page_all=1&slreturn=1503865318

Surfing didn’t even make the list because as we all know, it’s less dangerous than fishing or golf.

1. Basketball
2. Bicycle Riding
3. Football
4. Exercise (???)
5. Soccer
6. Swimming
7. Baseball
8. Skateboarding
9. Weightlifting
10. Softball
11. Fishing
12. Roller Skating
13. Horseback Riding
14. Volleyball
15. Wrestling
16. Snowboarding
17. Cheerleading
18. Gymnastics
19. Martial Arts
20. Golf

[kookRachelle]

According to Property Casualty 360, here are the top 20 sports that cause the most injuries based on emergency room visits in the United States...

Surfing didn’t even make the list because as we all know, it’s less dangerous than fishing or golf.

Ah well there is a very good reason why surfing isn't on that list - because surfers are badass and they don't go to the ER for every cut, scrape and boo boo!

[dtc]

In terms of deaths, fishing is usually by far the most dangerous sport ...

[oldmansurfer]

In terms of the likelihood you will die doing it I think base jumping holds the record or perhaps climbing Mt Everest

[kookRachelle]

In terms of the likelihood you will die doing it I think base jumping holds the record or perhaps climbing Mt Everest

I went sky diving a while ago and thought it was kind of meh. I remember thinking "yeah, BASE jumping must be so much better!"

[oldmansurfer]

I have been injured worse playing with my dog or hiking compared to surfing

[kookRachelle]

I have been injured worse playing with my dog or hiking compared to surfing

I used to do triathalons and can say that hands down my worst injury was crashing my bike and flying over the handle bars at 23mph. Shattered clavicle - plate, 6 screws, 2 bone grafts.

[oldmansurfer]

You sound a bit accident prone