Battle of the Paddles winnners:

Left to right: Elite race and distance race winner, Danny Ching, Rainbow Sandal’s Sparky, Elite 2nd & 3rd place finishers, Jamie Mitchell and Slater Trout. Former San Clemente local, Candace Appleby won the Women’s Elite division.
courtesy: Surfers Heritage

A mini-series to Jump Start your Surfing Experience….

Safety First

One of the most important surfing tips is the one about your safety. That’s right; surfing can be a dangerous sport, especially if you’re not familiar with the hazards and not knowledgeable of the steps to avoid it.  For starters, you need to be a decent swimmer.  Always surf with a buddy and surf in an area monitored by a lifeguard.  If uncertain where to launch always stop by the lifeguard tower, tell the lifeguard your level of surfing and ask for recommendations as to where you should launch your surfboard and the area where he would want you to surf.  Check with the lifeguard tower, also, to see if there are any sea pests, rip currents or any other dangerous conditions present and be attentive to their commands.  Be certain you are using the right equipment, like your surfboard attached securely to your ankle with a leash, surveying the location for hidden sandbars, rocks, or shallow reefs that might result in accidents while surfing.

- Kali ‘da Big Kahuna’