How To Survive the Wave Impact Zone! (Hawaiian Shorebreak)

Koa Smith explains how to survive the struggle of the wave impact zone. Wether you're a beginner or experienced surfer who's had a gnarly wipeout, or just a swimmer out of your depth, this tutorial will help you handle yourself in big waves. #surfing #howto #hawaii

Filmed at Keiki Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Filmed and edited by Michael Veltman

Follow the Smith brothers on Instagram:

DISCLAIMER:
The Smith Brothers channel insist that no one attempt to re-create or re-enact any stunt or activity performed in this video. This video is for educational purposes only and to help those who are in a serious situation. The Smith Brothers and the producers of this video are in no way held liable for any injury or death. If in doubt, don't go out!

[tillie]

The worst part is finally standing up after being taken away with a huge wave, and then you wipe your eyes to see which direction to go and another wave hits you straight in the face.

[over]

Thanks bro I'm currently caught in a rip current, in-between sets of getting pounded and found this useful.

[EvanNagao]

Honestly, the best advice is to stay relaxed while getting pounded. It's pretty counter-intuitive, when you're under for a while and can't breathe, your instinct is to try and swim your way up for air, but if you can just be patient, and allow the wave to take you however it wants, you'll always have enough oxygen to make it. The only times I ever got close to drowning was when I was trying too hard to fight against the wave.

[kevinobrienvlogs]

The worst feeling is looking up and seeing a 8-foot wave crash on your head.

[michelleashley]

"Why did I put myself here?" How many times in life is this self question appropriate? Excellent beginning.

[xdarura]

this looks super fun but only if there wasnt something called drowning.

[iglooproductions]

Hard to “focus on your breathing” when you’re not breathing.

[intigonzalez]

"They will notify a lifeguard or a local legend to come save your ass...hopefully"

[parabola]

When I was 14 I got caught inside on an 8 wave set of 25 - 30 foot faces. It was terrifying. Especially because my friends had already gotten washed inside by a massive set and this set was even bigger. Needless to say I survived it, but I realized that a large part of being out in massive waves is a mind game. I tend to get spooked really easily and I noticed that the mutant surfers that had no fear rarely got spooked. Being spooked is irrational. And you can't let your mind go there especially when you're being driven down into black water and your own surfboard is down there with you. So I realized that it was a mind game and every time I got caught inside thereafter I would go into my zen systematic way of breathing and going under and coming up. However, now that I'm 50 years old I realize that you absolutely have to be in shape. When I was young I took that for granted. I was in shape and didn't think much of it. I've been doing yoga, meditation and deep breathing for 25 years, mostly vegan and in decent shape. But man things are starting to get stiff. It's kind of a bummer. As you get older you really really have to work at staying in shape.

[jennbuchner]

i grew up in the ocean and learned getting slammed was just part of the game early on. learned how to fully relax my body when a big wave comes and when it swoops me up its honestly fun. sometimes some slight injuries here or there but having something so massive pick me up and throw me around is weirdly one of my favorite things. i always come up with the biggest smile and belly laugh

[kanelucas]

No one gonna talk about how the guy got smashed at 2:06

[ripwednesdayadams]

one tip i never see mentioned is how to figure out which way is up when your leash breaks/eardrums burst while you’re in the washing machine. if you lose your sense of direction and are unsure which way to swim, put your hand over your nose and exhale a tiny bit of air (not too much!) whatever direction you feel the bubbles going is up.

[ailistorenyoga]

I feel like this needs to be played on every flight landing in Hawaii. Great job!

[TimFisherMedia]

I have been extensively researching lung capacity this year after have my lung collapse and a little chunk taken out of it. After fully recovering from surgery I realized I couldn’t inflate one lung as much as I could inflate the other. Since then I have been focusing on my breath and expanding my lungs. I’ve compiled a list of remedies and figured I’d share them in hopes that someone might find it useful.

1. Cardio is your best friend and will give oxygen to the rest of your body when you need it. My favorite type of cardio is HIIT cardio or running.

2. O2 tables can greatly increase your length of breath and keep you out of dangerous scenarios. Also they will build your tolerance to CO2 and allow you to pass that feeling of wanting to breathe.

3. Keep calm! Especially when massive waves are about to slam you to the bottom of the ocean or you are fighting white water to catch your breath, you have to keep your heart rate down in order to use less oxygen.

4. Force yourself to breathe through your nose. This will also build up your CO2 tolerance as well as allow you to take deeper meaningful breathes.

5. And last but not least, always breathe more than you need to, especially when doing physical activities. There were 10-15 different times this week I caught myself choking on water because I simply didn’t take a deep enough breath. Add that to the panic of not making past an outside wave and you have yourself a wild ride.

[rileyparks]

Was unexperienced and got caught in a sudden rip current coupled with 7-foot breaking waves in Costa Rica. It had been extremely calm just moments before, and I was caught completely off guard. In about 15 seconds I had been pulled out around 100 feet from shore, and then I got slammed repeatedly by massive waves, most of which caught on my swim shirt. This turned it into a sail which pulled me rapidly to the shore by my neck. It was a frightening wake-up call which left me shaken and out of breath. I'm just glad I didn't smash into a rock once I hit the beach, as there were many near by.

[marcomantovani]

Thank you the smithbrothers for droping this vlog. Literally 48hrs after watching, I got stuck in such a situation while surfing a rocky reef break on the Canary Islands. In the water your advises popped up in my mind. And even, after signaling that my board was gone, closest surfer (a local) went straight with the next wave to get it before it got caught in the rocks. While that, my friend was checking the situation during the set from the shoulder.
In the end, I always felt save, did not get my board smashed and I could surf the rest of the day.
I think, we all should take care of the people around us in the water. One day it might be you. 🤙🏼

[gabrieltorres]

A few years ago on a stormy day i broke my leash. I remember how light my ankle felt compared to the usual strong pull of the wave dragging the board. It's a scary feeling realizing no one is comming to save you and you are too tired to swim. By luck, divine intervention or some biological thing the fear i was experiencing was abruptly replaced by a calmness followed by a burning sensation on my chest around the heart area. The adrenalin rush gave me the energy i would need to swim back to shore, i just had to swim down the crashing waves...or so i thought. When you have a board with you the float it has gives it immense stabilization when you cut under a wave but when its just you, it feels like you are a twig inside a tornado. I instinctivily curled up into a ball and just waited as i sort of spinned underwater. Once i could go back up i started swimming and trying to avoid getting hit hard by waves until i got to tired, then i remembered seeing someone in a similar situation alternate between front swims and backstrokes. That worked really well as my back muscles werent as tired and although struggling a bit i managed to get back on shore just before this big storm hit it. Being calm, knowing how to conservated energy and being in somewhat good physical form can be essential in a situation like this. Always keep in mind how thin the thread between life and death is (sometimes quite literally) and avoid being in situations in which you can die if something small goes wrong.

[ricardohincapie]

Yesterday I got caught in a set of three waves, the tallest probably 9ft high, at a Rio de Janeiro beach. It was all white water around me. I panicked so bad. Instead of relaxing, I set myself in a straigth position heading the beach (as fast as I could tell where it was, which was relatively easy because of the tall buildings) with my arms extended forward. It was a flat position, not a rounded one, like a surf table, and I kept swimming with my feet. I kinda notice surf tables generally are perpendicular to the beach when caught by a wave...
Not sure if it was a good strategy, but I am sure that if I would've get two or three more of those waves, I wouldn't been here writing about this experience.
I feel so grateful of being alive.

[untoldhistory]

Difficult to tell yourself ‘everything will be ok’ when the first word that crosses your mind is ‘oh shit’

[Hashpotato]

Excellent content. I think the real key take away here is not panicking and I know its easier said then done! I was visiting my dad out In NZ a few years ago, hadnt been in the water for over a year, (big city/shitty life) and arrogantly thought i could just head out and try mix it with the local groms in 10-15 foot waves. After nearly drowning during one set, catching zero waves, one of the kids asked if I was okay and I took the hintl! Know your level, dont get cocky and keep up your fitness. My ego nearly killed me that day and a 12 year old kid made me realise it wasnt worth it.