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Scott Batch

Fifty Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started Surfing! #17- Rip Currents

How to identify a Rip Current


A rip current is a strong, narrow stream of water that flows away from the shore, sometimes at speeds of up to 8 feet per second. Rip currents can be hazardous for swimmers and surfers who are not aware of them or who do not know how to escape them. They can cause panic, exhaustion, drowning, or even death.


To identify a rip current, you should look for some signs on the water surface, such as: - Deeper and/or darker water - Fewer breaking waves - A rippled surface surrounded by smooth waters - Anything floating out to sea or foamy, discolored, sandy water flowing out beyond the waves - A gap in the sandbar or a break in the reef


These signs may only sometimes be visible, so you should always be careful and vigilant when surfing or swimming in the ocean.

Once you've been surfing for a while, you can learn how to use these rip currents to reach the "outside" much faster. We learn how to use them like a conveyor belt, which saves us an immense amount of energy.... but while you're learning how to surf, you want to stay away from them.

To prevent getting swept out to sea, I always recommend staying in waist-deep water when a person is learning.


Be careful out there!

















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