The crystal-clear waves of the Olympic browsing seaside in Tahiti would possibly appear to be paradise from the consolation of your sofa, however drama beneath the floor of the Pacific is making this yr’s browsing competitors far more harmful than you might suppose.
The world over from the motion in Paris, Olympic surfers reside and competing within the village of Teahupo’o, which ominously roughly interprets to “the wall of skulls.” This wave break is taken into account one of many heaviest (surfer-speak for giant, quick, and harmful) on the earth, and for years, most of the world’s high surfers didn’t suppose the wave was even surfable. The mixture of the highly effective barreling wave and its proximity to a shallow, sharp reef could be lethal. Teahupo’o has taken 5 lives, in response to The Washington Put up. And it’s injured dozens extra.
When Olympic kayakers face rapids on a man-made course, they put on helmets and life preservers. Water polo gamers don ear safety. Probably the most expert dressage riders strap on a helmet for a ballet-like efficiency on a flat enviornment. But most surfers going through one in every of Mom Nature’s most dangerous forces put on little greater than a rash guard. What provides?
The principles set by the Worldwide Browsing Affiliation (ISA) don’t require Olympians to put on helmets, however the ISA launched a assertion recommending protecting headwear forward of this yr’s exceptionally harmful situations in Paris. Although falling into water may not sound all that scary, the actual hazard in Teahupo’o comes from the reef. Just under the surfers in Tahiti—normally invisible on the TV broadcast—is a discipline of coral that may trigger critical harm, particularly when you hit it with the inertia of a 12-meter wave behind you.
In the end, the helmet query is as much as the athletes. And sadly, as a 2020 research printed in Worldwide Assessment for the Sociology of Sport exhibits—aptly titled “‘Helmets aren’t cool’: Surfers’ perceptions and attitudes in direction of protecting headgear”—many simply haven’t thought it was needed. In line with the research, the surfers believed “uncomfortable” helmets would “hinder the efficiency of [surfing]” and make them look “uncool” in a sport the place aesthetics typically matter. However, because the researchers wrote, there’s proof to assist that head safety could be very important for security. The research notes that “head-related accidents comprise a substantial proportion of browsing accidents.” And head trauma can have extreme, short- and long-term penalties, together with concussion, seizures, and dizziness—to not point out, because the research authors identified, the danger of drowning.
Since most surfers don’t put on security gear throughout coaching, it’s pure to not need to change issues up on one of many largest days of their profession. Nonetheless, situations at this yr’s Video games might pressure some athletes to rethink. French surfer Johanne Defray fell head-first into the coral on her first coaching wave on July 28. She prevented a concussion, however wanted 4 stitches, in response to USA In the present day. She wore a helmet throughout competitors on August 1, and it’s most likely secure to imagine she’ll be sporting one for the rest of her time in Teahupo’o.
