Anyone had this happen to them or get worse with sup-surfing?

i seem to keep getting a form of minor concussion when I pull off heavy (even small but heavy waves) and get some air when I pull off the back of it and crash back in to the water, or caught in the wave as it tumbles and closes out.
ive been banned from all exercise the past 3 weeks and have to see a concussion clinic on Tuesday to see what's going on. Started about 5 months and just seems to be getting more frequent. Never any direct head knocks or contact, just impacts from crashing back in to the water or being spun around under the water from bigger waves

Small waves and maybe invest in a helmet. Speaking from experience.

Hi Benjl,

I have had concussions before but not from surfing and the hardest part is follow medical advice.
I'm assuming Auckland west coast waves may be the cause as they can get really dumpy!
Most Taranaki waves are reef breaks and my experience not the same thrashing for same size wave.

When you do get back on the water keep to flat water and then progress to east coast waves when we get them.
Yes maybe a helmet and long term you will get back.
Take it easy bro

Select to expand quote

benjl said..
Anyone had this happen to them or get worse with sup-surfing?

i seem to keep getting a form of minor concussion when I pull off heavy (even small but heavy waves) and get some air when I pull off the back of it and crash back in to the water, or caught in the wave as it tumbles and closes out.
ive been banned from all exercise the past 3 weeks and have to see a concussion clinic on Tuesday to see what's going on. Started about 5 months and just seems to be getting more frequent. Never any direct head knocks or contact, just impacts from crashing back in to the water or being spun around under the water from bigger waves

Hi Benji

YesI have had my bell rung doing exactly that off the back of the board and hit by the wave. I wear a helmet but ended up with a mild whiplash injury to my neck. It is a fairly low profile Gath helmet and I don't think it contributed to the neck injury. I have since tried to keep my head flexed forward when falling in backwards to try and prevent the rapid forward acceleration of my head when the wave hits me. If I can I try to fall in at a bit of an angle with my shoulder hitting the water first. I wonder if in water it is the "contrecoup" injury to you brain that is most problematic.

Bob

Hi bob and guys

Thanks for the responses. What are helmets like to wear? Oh god I can imagine the flak I'd get, when just being on a sup is bad enough hah.

@bob- what's 'contrecoup'?

I wear my helmet with a helmet cap for comfort. Sold at bike shops, kayak stores .

Select to expand quote

benjl said..
Hi bob and guys

Thanks for the responses. What are helmets like to wear? Oh god I can imagine the flak I'd get, when just being on a sup is bad enough hah.

@bob- what's 'contrecoup'?

Hi Benji

I get whacked by my board on the head a couple of times a year hard enough that I am very glad that I wear a helmet. The Gath surf helmet I wear is light, comfortable, low profile and a flat black colour. I have two; a large that I wear when not wearing a hood and an XL when wearing a hood. SUPs have considerably more mass than a prone board and can cause much more damage when they hit something. My "kill" zone is close to 20 ft (board plus leash) and I try to remember this when out with other surfers.

Contrecoup is a a brain injury on the side opposite the blow due to the brain striking the inside of the skull. Your brain can be thought of as nut rattling around inside your head when it is concussed. If the wave strikes the back of your head then there would be a bruise on the front of your brain.

Bob

Two more positive reasons to wear a helmet.
They are really easy to spot if your going to need to be rescued.
They keep the wind away from your ears reducing the chances of getting the closure of the ear canal and loss of hearing (surfers/swimmers ear).

Select to expand quote

benjl said..
Hi bob and guys

Thanks for the responses. What are helmets like to wear? Oh god I can imagine the flak I'd get, when just being on a sup is bad enough hah.

@bob- what's 'contrecoup'?

To me, it's comfortable. Cuts wind, you feel more confident, head doesn't sting when it slaps the water, it's warm, and it floats. You can feel it pulling you to the surface. I don't wear a helmet on the daily, but I do when I believe there's a reasonable risk to my noggin, when I'm surfing outer reef, or when I'm alone . Been wearing a Gath since they started making them, and couldn't care less what others think. Here's a picture of one of my old ones for thought. That's a reef strike I surfaced from with no new drain bamage ;-).


My buddy started wearing one after this next picture. Surfaced a little disoriented, and his board was between him and the white wash, which was about two seconds out. Board smacked him in the back of the head. We were about a km out, and had to get bleeding sorted before even heading in...




And then there's always the cool camera mount ;-)

Omg your mates Injury looks terrible! How bad was his concussion? Or more a slice than brain rattle?

that go pro mount is cool, would come in handy for me.
how much are these helmets?

Select to expand quote

benjl said..
Omg your mates Injury looks terrible! How bad was his concussion? Or more a slice than brain rattle?

that go pro mount is cool, would come in handy for me.
how much are these helmets?

No concussion. We believe the sharp chine on the rail at the back of the board got him. I just wear the NEO helmets, which are the lightest and oldest design. I think around US$150.