Weʻve all been there. Itʻs been raining but you decide to check your local surf spot anyway only to discover that the waves are going off! Now you are left with one of the biggest dilemmas a surfer has to face, should I surf after its been raining or not?
A three year study completed by the Surfrider Foundation found that a surfer has a 3% risk of contracting a Gastrointestinal Illness (GI) when surfing 72hrs after a storm compared to a 2.5% risk of contracting a GI when surfing during dry periods.
You read that correctly. There is only a 0.5% additional risk of contracting an illness surfing after a storm as opposed to waiting 72hrs. That doesnʻt mean you wonʻt get sick, but chances arenʻt that different from when it hasnʻt rained at all.
But before you go paddling out, it is important to dive deeper into the studies to reveal whatʻs behind those numbers.
What The Studies Say About Surfing After It Rains
In 2016, the Surfrider Foundation in partnership with the UC Berkeley School of Public Health released a 3 year study examining illness rates associated with surfing during wet weather.
The study followed 654 surfers based out of San Diego, logging in 10,081 surf sessions over the 3 year time frame.
As you may guess, the results show an increase of Gastrointestinal (GI) illness following ocean exposure, with illness rates increasing after wet weather.
But how much do illness rates actually increase after a storm?
- 18 in 1000 surfers will contract GI illness WITHOUT going in the ocean at all.
- 25 in 1000 surfers will contract GI illness when entering the water during DRY weather.
- 30 in 1000 surfers will contract GI illness when entering the water WITHIN 72hrs after it rains.
That equals an extra risk to 12 surfers in 1000 who will become sick after entering the ocean 72hrs after a rain event compared with those who do not enter the ocean at all.
Hereʻs the kicker, only 5 more surfers in 1000 will become sick after entering the ocean 72hrs after a rain compared with those who wait 3 days.
The studies show that there is an increased risk of getting sick, but that risk is not as high as they would have you believe. But you can get hurt while surfing. Read this post to learn more about the many ways surfing can cause injuries.
If Itʻs Brown, Donʻt Go Out
The above study was conducted in a dense urban environment that sees very little rain. Typically pollutant levels in such an environment are much higher after a rain event than a climate that sees higher rainfall.
In a city environment, there are numerous pressures on the ocean to act as the waste bin of modern society. Storm drains collect debris and runoff ladened with pollutants and washes them right out to sea. Sewage treatment plants typically overflow after rainfall. Trash is rampant.
But somehow, the number of people getting sick arenʻt all that different during the wet times as opposed to the dry times.
This can lead us to believe that things must be much better in a rural environment that gets higher rainfall. This is not always the case.
Rural surf spots have to deal with pesticide and erosion runoff from nearby farms and land holdings. Sometimes these rural rivers have deceased animals fouling up the waters, perhaps upstream someone created a makeshift rubbish dump. It can be harder to tell what might be polluting a natural, untouched stream.
The rule of thumb for any surfer, whether urban or rural should be, “If itʻs Brown, Donʻt Go Out.”
My local surf spot gets 120” of rain a year. If we could not surf 72hrs after a rain, then weʻd never get to surf. Lucky for us, not all rain events are the same.
There are only a few storms each season where I live that actually turn the water brown from all of the excess runoff. The rest of the time, the rain does not lead to brown, murky waters.
If thatʻs the case where you live, then take comfort in the fact that it is possible to surf after a rainfall, just maybe not after every one. Iʻd be more worried about sharks, but thatʻs a subject for another post.
Illnesses You Can Get Surfing After It Rains
Now I know what you might be thinking, “the chances are pretty slim that Iʻm going to get sick.” That may be true, but I can assure you from personal experience, at some point, youʻll probably get sick.
I used to get sick at the beginning of every winter, typically after a surf too close to recent rains. After that Iʻd be good for the rest of the season. It was a necessary hurdle I had to go through if I was going to catch those north swells, but I knew what I was getting into.
Itʻs important to know what kind of illnesses you can expose yourself to if you decide to go surfing. Being armed with knowledge will help you make the decision that is right for you.
Illness and Symptoms You Can Contract Surfing 72hrs Post Rainfall
- Gastrointestinal Illness
- Diarrhea
- Sinus Pain and Infection
- Earache and Infection
- Infection of Open Wound
- Skin Rash
- Fever
- Upper Respiratory Illness
- Eye Infection
- Vomiting
- Hepititus A
It Just Rained But The Waves Are Pumping, What Now?
Youʻve gotten to this point but still not deterred? Nothingʻs going to keep you back from pumping waves. Letʻs ensure that we do what we can to make sure you donʻt become one of the few that get sick.
Besides eating healthy and living an active lifestyle, there are a few things you can do to minimize your chances of becoming ill:
- Consult your doctor, I used to get a Hepititus A shot and a Tetanus shot at the start of every winter, just in case.
- Refrain from surfing within 400yds of a storm drain, creek, or any other water way within 72hrs after a storm. This can be hard, but it can be done.
- Each day post storm, the water gets progressively cleaner. Consider surfing on day 2 instead of day 1, post storm.
- Use ear plugs similar to these on Amazon to keep water out of your sinuses. DO NOT swallow water. Spit constantly.
- Take a shower immediately post surf. If the beach you surf at doesnʻt have a shower, get yourself your own portable shower. This one is my favorite, it has good pressure and breaks down into a smaller size when youʻre not using it.
- Use a Netti pot like this one on Amazon to further flush your sinuses post surf.
So is it safe to surf after a rain? You have the science. What you do with it is up to you. There was a time when no swell would go unridden, but as Iʻve aged, I have definitely become more selective on when I risk my health and when I choose not to.
Happy Surfing!!
