A surf zone is defined as the area of water between the beach/shore and the first line of breaking waves. A Coastal Flood Advisory indicates that surf and tides will combine to generate flooding of low areas along the shore. If you’d compare how dangerous surfing is to other extreme sports, surfing is among the safest. Big-wave surfers need to react quickly to wipeouts. There will be surfers who want to take advantage of the big waves, but no one should underestimate the power of … This means beach erosion and dangerous surf Tuesday. NWS provide you the information you need to stay safe on beaches and in coastal areas and surf zones. Although these guidelines can vary from beach to beach, in general, the surfer closest to the wave's break has the right-of-way. Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet (6.2 m) high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Worse, the churning waves can block light and make it difficult for the surfer to tell which way is up. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing localized beach erosion and dangerous swimming conditions. As surf areas become more crowded, surfers also have the potential to collide with each other. (Although in my opinion surfing isn’t an extreme sport unless we’re talking about big wave or slab surfing). Fall and winter are the best months to catch powerful, towering waves. But we understand how hard it is to find motivation when it's only 1 foot slop. Surfing bad waves is good for your surfing, simple. Big, beautiful, and consistent are the three best words to describe the waves at Waimea Bay, located on Oahu’s North Shore. Photo: Bielmann. The wave was measured at 73.5 feet (bigger than Kai Lenny’s estimated 70-footer, which won in the men’s division), breaking her previous record of 68 feet, and also setting a new world record for the largest wave surfed by a woman. Teahupoo is the most dangerous break in the world. Waimea Bay, Hawaii. When surfing a wave your speed is relatively low and the water will absorb most of your crashes. 10. In big-wave surfing, wipeouts are even more dangerous. This is one of the reasons why responsible surfers follow a code of etiquette that determines who has the right-of-way on a wave. Competing to surf the biggest waves in the world is inherently dangerous and life-threatening. See our photos of dangerous waves. 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