Biggest Wave Ever Surfed

Videos by Exile Skimboards
https://www.youtube.com/user/ExileSkimboards
http://exileskimboards.com/

Skimboarders: Brad Domke, Bradley Norris, Jamie O’Brien

The biggest waves ever surfed on a skimboard

Videos:

Brad Domke at Teahupoo – 2016 Billabong Ride of the Year Entry – WSL Big Wave Awards

Brad Domke Skimboards Better Than You’ll Ever Surf

Brad Domke’s Puerto Platter – Exile Skimboards

Domke- ‘The Right’ and The Eye of Cyclops – Exile Skimboards

SURF-SKIM Session – Brad Domke & JOB swapping boards in Mexico

The Biggest Wave Ever Ridden On A Skimboard – Brad Domke – Exile Skimboards

Music: Wall of Anger

Countries:
Puerto Escondido – Mexico
Cyclops – Australia
The Right – Australia
Teahupoo – Tahiti

Skimboarding (or skimming) is a boardsport in which a skimboard (much like a surfboard but smaller and without fins) is used to glide across the water’s surface to meet an incoming breaking wave, and ride it back to shore. Wave-riding skimboarders perform a variety of surface and air maneuvers, at various stages of their ride, out to, and back with, the wave. Some of these are known as “wraps,” “big spins,” “360 shove-its” and “180s.” Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Skimboarders use their momentum to skim out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to surfing. Another aspect of skimboarding is “flatland,” which involves performing tricks derived from skateboarding such as ollies and shove-its on the wash of waves without catching shore breaks. Skimboarding originated in Southern California when Laguna Beach lifeguards wanted to surf the local shorebreak that was too fast and shallow for surfboards. Skimboarding has developed since then to ride waves much like surfing, performing aerial maneuvers and pulling into the barrel of the wave.

There are many types of dangers that skimboarders can face on a daily basis. It is not uncommon to see fractures or dislocations of the lower limbs, some requiring serious medical attention. Lacerations, twisted ankles and bruises are also common, due to impacts with the board itself, or rocks, logs and other obstacles present on beaches. Hamstring injury is also common due to the fast and extreme movement of skimboarder’s leg when they run toward the water and jump on the board. Drowning amongst skimboarders is not as likely as amongst surfers due to the shallow water in which skimboarding is usually practiced. Also, due to the shallow water, cervical fracture is a very dangerous possibility when riding big waves.
A study was done in a British journal on the dangers of skimboarding, and it states, “Over a 5 month period—May to September 2003—10 patients were seen by the fracture team at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. Of the 10, eight were male, with an average age 18.7 (range 12–31). There was an equal incidence of left and right sided injuries. All the injuries were closed with no neurovascular symptoms or signs. Eight were to the lower limb, all of which were fractures of the distal tibia, ankle, and mid-foot. Six patients required hospital admission, all of these injuries were from skimboarding.”[citation needed]
Many injuries that skimboarders suffer happen over a long period of time. Such injuries include: groin strain, fractures, leg pains, shin splints, etc. Some of these injuries can be prevented by stretching before and after a session.
Another foot injury that can occur is “skimboard toe”. Much like “turf toe,” it develops from overuse and can eventually break bones in your foot.
Other dangers to consider are riptides. They can be very strong in certain areas and bring a skimboarder out to sea very quickly. There have been a few incidences of skimboarders dying from drowning by being caught in a riptide.[citation needed] Many skimboarders[who?] recommend asking locals about tides and swells as well as checking tide charts if skimming in a new area. Doing so will also help avoid rocks that are hidden under waves, which are another potential cause of serious injury.