RIP Currents

[huggystyle]

Hey

I am completly new to surfing and I cannot wait to get out and learn, there is only one thing thats worrying me, and no its not sharks (well I don't think there are many great whites in newquay) its rip currents that are worrying me. Has anyone ever been caught in one and how common are they?? I know a few weeks ago there was one in newquay and lot of swimmers got washed out, they were rescued though.

[Phil]

i use them all the time to get out back when its big once you get good you will come to love the rips they make the paddle out so much easyer

how ever if you do get caught in one the first thing to do is dont panic, paddle acorss the rip to get out of it dont try paddling into it just be a waste of time and energy, when surfing spots for the first time its best to get some local info on how bad the rips are most beach breaks you dont have to worry to much especly if your surfing fairly small waves there wont be much of a rip anyway

[Broosta]

Rips are more of a hazzard for swimmers cos it means they have to swim much further and get too tired to swim any further and drown or get rescued.
We surfers just bob around sat happily on our boards thinking "oh dear I'm in the rip, think I'll paddle sideways a bit and get some more waves ".

[k mac]

knowledge over comes fear

[manick]

Rips are good for building up your paddling stamina, it means you can paddle for ages without going too far away from the spot where there is a decent wave. I found it useful for that last weekend anyway at Watergate, was rippy as hell because of the ultra low tide, called the missus into it for a laugh, didn't have a clue bless her!!!! boy did I get a mouthful!!.

[Dopey]

[globesurfer]

A rip isnt ever gonna take you out much further than the back, so thats why theyre so good for getting to the line up

[Laguna]

Rips can be very dangerous, but alsong as you are a reasonable swimmer and know what you are doing you will be ok. You cant swim into them you will have to swim/paddle parallel to the shore to get out of them

[meister]

yeah i went to a surf camp and the #1 thing they taught us about rips is that if you know how to handle them, they're harmless. i think it can differ depending on the beach, but if you get caught in it and you're finding it hard to paddle diagonally out, you can just allow yourself to run along with it and it'll open out to just behind the last breakers.