If you feel yourself falling, or if the wave dies down, jump away from the board towards the ocean and away from your momentum.
A good idea is to fall to the side or the back of the board, covering your head with your arms as you fall.
Go with the flow, letting the wave carry you.
Swim upwards gently and feel what’s ahead of you to avoid getting hit by the board.
Try to land flat so that you won’t injure yourself in shallow water or on a reef.
Once you have safely surfaced, pull your leash and climb back onto your board to prevent it from scything or flopping through the water, which can cause serious injury to you or others.
Climb aboard, rest on your belly, and regain control.
Most wipe out injuries happen as a result of the board hitting the surfer. Always remember to bail to the ocean side of your board.
You don’t want to be between the beach and your board when a wave has control of the board.
If you are riding for the very first time, it’s great to rent a foam surfboard rather than a fiberglass one, as they are softer and less likely to cause you injury while learning.
Use the channels to get out of the way. After you wipeout or bail, you need to get out of the way so that other people can surf. Don’t paddle up the middle of the break where other surfers will be coming. Instead, paddle off to the side first, to keep the wave zone clear.