Published by Fotomoda
ACN 78 108 786 064
P.O. Box 302, Terrigal, New South Wales, 2260, Australia
email: [email protected]
Illustrations, Text & Design layout
Copyright © Melanie & Roque‘Bo’Ablan III, 2011
First Published 2011
Revised Edition Published 2010
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Author: Lumsden-Ablan, Melanie.
Title: Aussie surfa: the surf guide/Melanie Ablan, Bo Ablan.
ISBN 978-0-646-51962-3 (pbk).
Notes : Includes index.
Subjects: Surfing--Safety measures.
Beaches--Safety measures.
Aquatic sports--Safety measures.
Outdoor recreation--Environmental aspects.
Other Authors/Contributors Ablan, Roque Bo, III.
Dewey Number: 363.14
Reviewed by the Public Safety and Education Coordinator of Surf Life Saving Australia Rip information provided by Surf Educate Australia
Printed in China
Dedicated to my Dad, Brian & special ta to the Duke.
Every attempt has been made to provide accurate information in this book, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for omissions, changes or errors. First aid and CPR material is included as general information and not intended to substitute for professional medical advice
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication maybe reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from Fotomoda
Digital Distribution: Ebook Alchemy
ISBN: 9781742982137 (ePub)
Conversion by Winking Billy
Aussies LOVE the beach. . with over 11,500 beaches stretching along our HUGE 37,000 kilometres of coastline.
Bet you didn’t know.. each year, more than 55 million trips will be made to one of 400 patrolled Aussie beaches.. & well over 3 million visitors will be SURFers!
Whether you’re a Surf BOARD RIDER, a BODY or BOOGIE board Surfer. . SWIMMING, SUNNING or if you’re just hanging out at the beach, it’s good to know a bit about the Aussie Surf.
Reckon the ‘aussie surfa’ guide can help to keep you SAFE in our waves, while you ENJOY our waters.
CONTENTS
Surf, Sun & Sand
Surfing, Boards &Waves
Lingo A-Z, Wavetalk
Stingers, Sharks, Crocs & First Aid
Surf & Beach Maps
Hints, Tips & Websites
SWIM SMART
Each year MILLIONS of beach visitors are attracted to our shores.. however, 22,000 of those will be RESCUED & 88% of those saved will be MEN..! 118,000 people will need FIRST AID. In the State of NSW alone there will be over 13,000 rescues this year.
Most rescues occur when swimmers get caught in DANGEROUS water currents known as RIPS, that develop in our seas. You can help keep yourself SAFE in the SURF by following some simple guides:
Always swim BETWEEN the FLAGS! The RED & YELLOW flags mark the area of the beach which is supervised. On most Queensland beaches flags fly all year round, in New South Wales flags appear from September to April.
Since 1907 highly trained volunteer SURF LIFESAVERS & PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARDS have recorded rescues of more than 560,000 people saved .
LIFESAVERS, wearing the famous Red & Yellow Shirts & Caps, patrol on the weekends & public holidays. Council LIFEGUARDS are on weekday duties & weekends at more popular beaches.
Always READ & OBEY the SIGNS before going into the water. CHECK the SURF CONDITIONS, ask the Lifesaver or Lifeguard on duty.
DON’T DIVE or JUMP into ANY water, especially if it appears SHALLOW.
ALWAYS SUPERVISE KIDS in the water, it only take seconds to drown.
ALWAYS SWIM with a MATE, NEVER on your own.
DON’T SWIM directly AFTER EATING, allow food to properly digest.
DON’T SWIM if you’ve been drinking, ALCOHOL & SWIMMING DON’T mix.
NEVER SWIM at NIGHT or AFTER DUSK. Dusk is shark time & darkness prevents you from seeing the dangers of rips etc.
If you get in trouble STAY CALM...
RAISE your ARM to attract ATTENTION & signal for HELP.
FLOAT.. & wait for assistance
When being rescued DON’T struggle, TRUST in the Lifeguards or Lifesavers to bring you safely back into shore.
Dial OOO in an EMERGENCY OR Dial 112 from your Mobile (Cell phone)
In an extreme EMERGENCY the Westpac LIFESAVER RESCUE HELICOPTER is on call 365 days ofthe year.. Started in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), helping to save around 2,000 lives each year, This is the longest running Search & Rescue service in the world.
NEVER SWIM at UNpatrolled beaches. If the Flags are NOT displayed it means the beach is NOT guarded. If the Lifeguards & Lifesavers CAN’T SEE you. they CAN’T SAVE you!
SURF & RIPS
RIPS are a DANGEROUS part of Aussie waters, accounting for approximately 80% of yearly rescues.
At BONDI BEACH there’s a section of the beach so renown for strong rips the locals have given it the name of ‘BACKPACKERS RIP’ as tourists are ALWAYS getting caught there.
RIPS are CREATED after the WAVES that BREAK on shallow sandbars look for a way to get back OUT to sea.
The PATH they create & flow out from is called a RIP CURRENT, which is the CHANNEL that usually forms BETWEEN two SAND BARS. Evidence shows that 90% of RIPS rarely move OUT of the surf zone.
Rips are usually found in DEEPER water channels running NEAR the shore & circulating back to a SHALLOWER sandbar where the WAVES are BREAKING toward the beach.
EASY ways to SPOT A RIP:
DEEPER, DARKER water where waves AREN’T breaking or are inconsistant.
FOAM