Surfing During A Thunderstorm

totally safe and intelligent

 

Good way to die

 

the sharks will enjoy your carcass...you don't actually think those other desperate kooks are going to save you after you get struck by lightning?

 

This. I took a bolt of lightning strike 20 ft over my head on land. I lost my memory for 3 hrs and spent 12 hrs in the emergency room answering questions ('so when do my super powers kick in?'). Your brain and body runs on small amounts of electricity. Voltage from lightning is a function of proximity to the strike. Lightning will fry your body electronics. I was told that I my being alive today is the difference between .01 and .001 volts. If you want to take that chance, go for it. Darwin at work.

 

I don't, not on purpose. I have however been out when lightening has begun to strike but I'll call it then.

A few weeks ago I paddled out, out was rainy. Got one wave and realize everyone turned for shore and got out. I'm sitting there wondering why. Apparently lightening, I didn't even notice.

Every see those sweet tats that get left on people after a lightening strike

 

So, inquiring minds want to know, what have some of your other un-smart decisions been thus far in your life?

Seriously, though, even electricians don't fully understand why electricity takes the path it does. 110 can kill you - - and you're floating around in water with a couple hundred thousand volts perforating the atmosphere nearby....?

All the other posts are spot-on: take heed & maybe you get to surf til you're an old dood.

 

I would ask gruvi, he knows about surfing in the rain... Actually there is a whole thread on it somewhere...


You really gotta watch cause if the waves are bigger it's easy to not hear thunder or mistake it for waves crashing... And rubber will not save you

 

If you do, you better be wearing your Kingii.

 

I have, with no ill effects.

 

Talk about getting dropped in on.

[video=youtube;xrWM3vh41Bw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrWM3vh41Bw[/video]

It's in slo-mo BTW.
.

 

I have with no ill effects.

 

Don't forget to bring a towel!

 

I encourage all surfers in my beach community to surf during electrical storms.

 

Haaha. ^




Did it when I was a kid. Never again.

Look up footage of lightning striking water if you ever need a reminder.

 

That's crazy...

But you being alive is probably due to the difference between .01 and .001 amps, not volts.

 

Here is something that is tangentially related to thread topic. Wise words from Greg Long:
http://www.surfline.com/video/webisodes/national-geographic-live-greg-long_129413

 

Was surfing blacks last year with a few friends visiting from NJ.

Storm rolled in quick and we heard a few cracks, but didn't leave. Then a big bolt blasted a palm over near LJ shores and lit that puppy on fire. Me, my friends and the other 100 guys all turned and paddled in.
Pretty scary stuff

 

I don't even get in the shower during a thunderstorm. Unless, yes, with my Kingii

 

It's a risk/reward thing... risk your life/get a few more waves (added to the 50,000 or so you'll get over the span of your surfing lifetime... if you live through your "electric" session). For me, not worth the risk.

I take precautions and have nearly been struck a few times... once while running from the beach, board under my arm, in the pounding rain. Lighting was cracking all around, then suddenly one hit a tree and a car parked underneath of it about 30 yards ahead of us. Good thing I'm not a faster runner! I learned then not to wait for the storm to be on top of me before I get out of the water. The sound of thunder can be heard from about 10 miles away. That's good enough for me to call it quits.