As surfing grows in popularity, so too is surf rage as beaches fill up and injury tolls mount, says a new University of NSW (UNSW) report.
More than one in 10 Australian surfers say they injured someone on the waves according to new research from UNSW’s Beach Safety Research Group.
The study, just published in the Injury Prevention journal, found that 93 out of 815 surfers surveyed (11.4%) say they have injured another person in the water.
Most injuries were accidental, a small minority involved retaliatory behaviour linked to surfing behaviour.
Lead author Dr Michael Tran, from UNSW’s School of Clinical Medicine, says the research focus is on an aspect of surfing injuries that has rarely been studied.
“Most research has focused on injuries surfers sustain themselves,” he says.
“What we asked instead was whether surfers had ever injured someone else while they were surfing.”
SURFING TAKES A TOLL
Among surfers who reported injuring someone else, 48% of reports were linked to collisions caused by crowding or difficulty seeing others in the water.
Fin-related cuts (“fin chops”) were the most commonly reported injury, accounting for 28% of responses from surfers who said they had injured someone (ranging from minor cuts to wounds requiring stitches).
Other popular incidents involved a surfboard hitting someone else during a wipeout or manoeuvre (15%) and 14% for head injuries or concussions caused by a board.
“If someone is knocked unconscious in the water, the risk changes straight away,” Dr Tran says.
“A head injury in the surf can quickly become a drowning risk.”
STILL ON THEIR L-PLATES
Dr Tran said the findings reflect the reality 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; more than 490,000 Australians aged over 15 years take part, the university says.
Co-author Dr Amy Peden, from UNSW’s School of Population Health, said more people on the water translates to greater chances of collisions.
“Inexperience is likely a factor in some cases so we need to balance participation, and the positives of that, with ensuring safety,” she says.
SURF RAGE
Some respondents also admitted to attacking and injuring others.
“For the most part the collisions were accidental and often due to crowding or visibility issues,” Dr Peden says.
“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 SCHOOL
The researchers say education around surf safety and behaviour could help reduce injuries such as developing spatial awareness and understanding who has priority on a wave.
While many surf schools teach these principles, the researchers say broader awareness campaigns could help reach those surfers who learn informally or surf outside programs.
“These incidents are preventable, particularly with better awareness of surf etiquette and how to manage your board in busy conditions,” Dr Peden says.
INJURY REPORTING
The study also highlights a gap in injury reporting; while injuries to surfers are sometimes captured in hospital or emergency department data, cases where surfers injure other people are rarely recorded.
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 happen may also help beach managers consider how surf zones are managed at busy beaches.
“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 behaviour and opinions about coastal safety.
Read the study at: doi.org/10.1136/ip-2025-045890
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