As surfing grows in popularity, crowded lineups are creating more opportunities for collisions – and in some cases, conflict between surfers in the water.
More than one in 10 Australian surfers say they have injured someone else while surfing, according to new research from UNSW’s Beach Safety Research Group that sheds light on an under-recognised risk in crowded surf breaks.
The study, published today in the journal Injury Prevention, found that 93 out of 815 Australian surfers surveyed – or 11.4% – said they had injured another person in the water at some point while surfing.
Most injuries were accidental, but a small minority involved deliberate or retaliatory behaviour linked to breaches of surf etiquette.
Lead author Dr Michael Tran, from UNSW’s School of Clinical Medicine, said the research examined an aspect of surfing injuries that has rarely been studied.
“Most research has focused on injuries surfers sustain themselves,” Dr Tran said. “What we asked instead was whether surfers had ever injured someone else while they were surfing.”
Cuts, collisions and concussions
Among surfers who reported injuring someone else, nearly half of the incidents – 48% – were linked to collisions caused by crowding or difficulty seeing others in the water.
Fin-related cuts – or “fin chops” in surfers’ parlance – were the most frequently reported injury, accounting for 28% of responses among surfers who said they'd injured someone, ranging from minor cuts to deeper wounds requiring stitches.
Other incidents involved the surfboard striking someone during a wipeout or manoeuvre, accounting for 15% of responses. A further 14% described head injuries or concussions caused by a surfboard striking another person.
“If someone is knocked unconscious in the water, the risk changes straight away,” Dr Tran said. “A head injury in the surf can quickly become a drowning risk.”
Still on their L-plates
Dr Tran said the findings reflect the realities of an increasingly popular sport.
“Participation in surfing has been growing, particularly since the pandemic,” he said. “As more people enter the water at popular breaks, with varying levels of experience, the chances of collisions and other incidents can increase.”
Surfing is one of Australia’s most popular coastal activities, with more than 490,000 Australians aged over 15 taking part.
Co-author Dr Amy Peden, from UNSW’s School of Population Health, said more people taking up the sport increases the chances of accidental collisions.
“Inexperience is likely a factor in some cases, so we need to balance participation, and the positives of that, with ensuring safety,” she said.
Surf rage
Perhaps encouraged by the anonymity of the survey, some respondents admitted to retaliatory behaviour that caused injury to others.
“For the most part the collisions were accidental and often due to crowding or visibility issues,” Dr Peden said. “Although rare, disputes over surf etiquette were reported to sometimes escalate into deliberate acts of violence.
“While the survey data doesn’t differentiate whether these incidents involved other surfers or swimmers, conflicts in the surf can, and do, occur between surfers competing for the same wave.”
Back to surf-school
The researchers say education around surf safety and etiquette could help reduce injuries to others in the water, such as guidance on spatial awareness and understanding who has priority on a wave.
While many surf schools already teach these principles, the researchers say broader awareness campaigns could help reach recreational surfers who learn informally or surf outside organised programs.
“These incidents are preventable, particularly with better awareness of surf etiquette and how to manage your board in busy conditions,” Dr Peden said.
Injury reporting
The study also highlights a gap in injury reporting systems.
While injuries to surfers themselves are sometimes captured in hospital or emergency department data, incidents where surfers injure other people are rarely recorded in official statistics.
As a result, the true frequency of these events is difficult to estimate.
The researchers say improving injury reporting could help coastal safety organisations better understand the risks in surf zones and develop targeted prevention strategies.
Understanding how and why these incidents occur may also help beach managers consider how surf zones are managed at busy beaches where multiple water users share the same space.
“Injuries happen because the surf can be crowded, chaotic, and fast-moving,” Dr Tran says.
“A split second of inattention can cause a concussion or a deep fin cut. As more Australians take up surfing, we need clear messaging about how to keep yourself, and others, safe in the surf.”
The findings are drawn from the Global Surfer Survey, an international study exploring surfers’ experiences, safety behaviours and views on coastal safety.
Read the study at: https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2025-045890
SURFERS' QUOTES FROM THE SURVEY
Collisions due to crowding or poor visibility
“It was really crowded and I was trying to miss others.”
“Surfing late afternoon with the sun in my eyes… I injured his arm.”
“They were paddling out through the surf… I accidentally ran over them.”
Deliberate or retaliatory incidents
“Somewhat deliberately… I took out a guy who had dropped in on me four times… knocking him unconscious.”
“Flicked a board at them for dropping in (it was the seventies) don’t judge me.”
“Numerous other physical altercations in the surf resulting in injury to the other person.”
Fin-related lacerations (‘fin chop’)
“My fin hit someone in the head and made a cut.”
“Fin cut to face requiring stitches.”
“Ran over them and cut them with the fin.”
“I ran over them and fin-chopped their head.”
Head injuries and concussions
“Board hit fellow surfer on the head, resulting in concussion.”
“I flew off the board and it hit a kid in the head and knocked them unconscious.”
“My board accidentally hit their head. No medical intervention required.”
“Hit someone with my board. The person suffered mild concussion.”
Injuries from board impact
“Lost board on wave and it flung out and hit someone in the head.”
“My surfboard impacted on someone’s else wrist.”
“Collision between boards, bruising to both of us.”
Inexperience
“I was inexperienced and my board hit someone else.”
“Their inexperience caused them to panic and make a bad decision putting them in danger.”
Contact details:
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Lachlan Gilbert
UNSW News & Content
t: +61 2 9065 5241
e: [email protected]
