River surfing can be so much fun that it’s easy to forget that we’re playing in a potentially dangerous and unforgiving environment. Maybe you’re chatting with friends in the eddy, watching a pro shred the wave, or just zoning out… in any case, it’s easy to forget to watch out for your fellow surfers.
The swim back to the bank is often the most dangerous part of river surfing. After falling there are rocks under the water for you to bang your head on, trees and stumps to get your leash wrapped up in, and a board with sharp fins bobbing above you… all while getting carried down stream and away from help at often a rapid rate. There are so many things that can go wrong after falling, that having a spotter is required. So today I’d like to propose the following to the river surfing community:
Second in line, checks you’re fine
A simple saying, with a clear meaning: when you swim, the second person in line will watch you until you are to safety. Or if you’re in the eddy waiting for your turn to surf, when you’re second in line it’s your responsibility to watch the surfer on the wave and make sure they are ok after falling or kicking off the wave.
Natali Zollinger and Claire Chappell spotting Brittany Parker as she surfs Glenwood (photo credit: Heather Jackson)
When you’re the spotter, there are a few key things you should look for:
1) Has the person you’re watching come up?
2) Does the person have control of their board (and their paddle if they are standup paddling)?
3) Is the person swimming back to their board or to the shore?
4) Has the person made it to calm water, the eddy, or the shore?
While you’re spotting if you can answer “yes” to all four points, then you know the person is safe. If you can answer “yes” to the first three points, the person is in good shape and most likely going to be fine (unless there is a dam or large rapid immediately down stream). If you cannot answer “yes” to any of the points, or only the first one, then you should continue to spot them and be ready to potentially rush to their aid.
Natali Zollinger swimming downstream of a wave in Durango (photo credit: Heather Jackson)
Rivers are dangerous and when things go bad, the problem needs to be addressed immediately. It’s easy to forget how important watching out for one another is. Let’s try our best to remember: “second in line, checks your fine.”
Credit to Zack Hughes from Badfish SUP for starting this conversation.
Written by | Benjamin
Benjamin Smith is a land locked surfer living in Colorado. He gets his surfing fix on the local rivers, where he SUP surfs standing waves.
Claire
September 18, 2015 at 8:36 pm
This is a great point Ben, and this sort of watching out saved a surfer’s tib-fib during a surf sesh this summer. I pushed off onto the wave and started surfing and then thought I heard someone yell. By the time I came off the wave and started looking around I saw that the surfer who had exited the wave right before me had gotten foot-entrapped in the rocks near the bank and was in a tough spot, not drowning or anything but there was a lot of pressure on his lower leg. I was in the current flying past and couldn’t get to him easily. The third person there who would have been “second in line” had heard his yell, had a visual and was able to see where he was and get to him quickly to help him safely to shore. It’s so easy to be so smitten with the wave that we forget that we need to be somewhat on the look out at all times. Thanks for writing this!
Benjamin
September 20, 2015 at 8:51 pm
That’s super scary Claire! Was that at Glenwood under the bridge?
Thierry doizon
September 21, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Good points, there is an entire culture of responsibility to establish here, will try to apply these spotter role here in Quebec! Thanks Benjamin.
Benjamin
September 21, 2015 at 11:10 pm
Awesome! Let me know if you get some traction and support around the spotter role in Quebec!