Riding big waves

[Snowman78]

How come people do not wear a PFD (life jacket) when surfing?

[kidicarus13]

How come people do not wear a PFD (life jacket) when surfing?

The same reason most Harley riders don't wear helmets... you just don't look as cool.

[SuperiorDG]

How come people do not wear a PFD (life jacket) when surfing?

They actually do when towing. And some guys wear these when surfing big waves without skis. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj7...-wetsuit_sport

[hatidua]

How come people do not wear a PFD (life jacket) when surfing?

As stated above, some of the strapped/tow guys not only wear PFD's but bottled air as well. However, for most situations, wearing a PFD would be dangerous: PFD's generally cause you to float and that's the last thing you'd want on if caught "inside" with a big set of waves bearing down on you (you'd want to be diving for the bottom to get under the wave, not bobbing in the impact zone).

[nynco]

How come people do not wear a PFD (life jacket) when surfing?

Because in surfing you need to get under the wave in order not to get toss or killed. You want to duck dive to get out of the washer effect. I think a good thing would be a system that deploys when triggered. A system that is passive like a life jacket will end up getting a person killed faster.

I love surfing, and boy does it have a way of humbling you.

[generalmeow]

I wonder how far under water you go when one of those waves crashes on top of you?

I think it would be fun to just sit in an inner tube for a while a little further out.

[newracer]

I wonder how far under water you go when one of those waves crashes on top of you?

I think it would be fun to just sit in an inner tube for a while a little further out.

Many times all the way to the bottom. Biggest waves I ever rode where maybe 10'-12' and I could have sworn they were 30'-50'. I hit bottom many times, even on waves that were ~ 6'.

[sniper7]

I'm happy watching from dry land or in the air.

[Gman]

Big waves are often due to rapid shallowing of the terrain beneath them. It's not unusual at all to be pounded into whatever is below the water once the wave breaks over you. This really sucks for surfing over coral reefs.

A PFD would also limit your ability to duck dive beneath waves waiting for the right one. These guys are getting towed, but as was pointed out, you'll want the extra flexibility to dive when necessary.

[KS63]

I surfed Sunset Beach only a few times as the crowd is insane. The locals who surf Sunset (Da Hui) are very protective of their spot. Quite often foreigners get punched in the face just for paddling out. Unless the direction and timing if the swell is ideal, Sunset Beach is a pretty shitty wave. Velzyland which is just north of Sunset is a better wave but can't handle a large swell like Sunset. I miss Home...