What are the dangers of surfing while traveling, and is kiting or windsurfing dangerous abroad?

What are the dangers of surf sports abroad?

• Many of the dangers of surfing are similar to other water sports at sea: drowning, exhaustion, and hypothermia are all lurking, especially with poor preparation.
• Take the time to "read" the sea. Where are the waves breaking, where is the water flowing back (river!), how are other beachgoers and surfers behaving?
• Don't go out alone; make sure there are people around you who can help you or call for help if you get into trouble.

What are the dangers of surfing while traveling?

• Although waves can often look quite violent from the beach, experiencing a breaking wave while you're in the middle of one is an experience in itself.
• The brutal force of a breaking wave can slam you to the bottom and keep you underwater for quite a while, while you become disoriented by the churning water. The sharper the surface, the greater the risk of a fall. Protective clothing and surf shoes can prevent some of the damage. A fall on a firm sandy bottom can also be quite severe.
• Catching waves that exceed your surfboarding skills can seriously jeopardize your chances.
• Occasionally, a surfer is mistaken for a tasty morsel by a shark, for example. Surfers usually escape unscathed in these situations, but occasionally, serious and fatal injuries occur.
• Although the surfing community is often seen as "chill," it's important to be mindful of unwritten rules regarding who can catch which wave and when. There are also surf spots where local surfers try to ward off or chase away visitors.

What are the dangers of windsurfing and kitesurfing abroad?

• Especially for beginners, it can be quite difficult to estimate how far you can surf and still return safely. Exhaustion and hypothermia can strike while trying to surf back to shore in unfavorable winds. Especially in strong winds, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain control, which can lead to collisions with other water sports enthusiasts, and when kitesurfing, someone can even be blown into the shore.
• Personal experience: there's a serious risk of a bruised ego if it turns out that combining kite flying and surfing isn't one of your talents.