Surfing Medicine International

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Surfing Medicine International

"Keeping the Surfer Healthy and Safe" | Non-profit, volunteer-based organization | Documentary: https://vimeo.com/361690283 SMI

Surfing Medicine International (SMI) was founded as a non-profit, volunteer-based organisation in order to "Keep the Surfer Healthy and Safe" by connecting Doctors and Allied Health Professionals with a passion for surfing. Whether you are a dermatologist from the Fjords of Norway, or a physiotherapist from the cape of Portugal, we all share the same magic love for riding waves. With an internatio

nal network of passionate people who share our stoke, SMI aims to make a positive contribution to the health and well-being of surfers across the globe by developing the specific sub-specialization of Medicine, Surfing Medicine, to respond to the needs of an every growing population. Surfing is becoming increasingly popular, with current estimates numbering 37 million surfers worldwide. Surfers may encounter several different types of health issues while riding waves around the globe: trauma to the head or extremities, drowning and hypothermia, UV damage to the skin and eyes, tropical infectious disease from travelling, or stings and bites from marine species are part of this spectrum, to name but a few. By sharing knowledge, expertise, and clinical experience from our membership, representing all medical specialties, we provide the surfer with information on how to stay healthy and safe throughout life. Our current activities include the Annual Conference in Surfing Medicine, at exciting surf locations; Outreach & Public Health Promotion Events (The Surfer's Academy), Inter-Professional Collaboration, Learning, and Scientific Research. If you are interested in what we do, and wish to use your skills to contribute to "Keeping the Surfer Healthy and Safe", please reach out and connect, or feel free to make a donation via our homepage to support our work. Thanks for your support; See you 'out-back' in the water!

15/05/2026

Reflection on Hui - Surf Life Support, Raglan New Zealand

Where sits the surf community in the Prepare section -> "Drowning Prevention Time-line"?

Our audience in Raglan reflected - with great contribution from two 9-year old local grommets!

Surfers are in sync with the ocean environment — a finely tuned environmental awareness that is itself the foundation of drowning prevention.

A cultural shift is evolving: the complete surfer is no longer defined solely by aerials or critical manoeuvres, but by the capacity to keep themselves and others alive in the environments they inhabit.

For our children, future Surfing generations - we should evolve a pathway from basic ocean safety to rescue & resuscitation alongside progressive surfing skills, so that every young surfer graduates not only as an athlete but as a competent first responder. More research to be done how to gradually bring this along, to ensure safe integration.

We are looking forward to have more in depth discussions - we know Surfers Save Lives! Let us know your thoughts on where the Surf Community can make a difference - Prepare | Prevent | React | Mitigate

Original publication:
PMID: 27575579.
https://lnkd.in/ePeFNskV

08/05/2026

Kia Ora - SMI will visit Raglan New Zealand!

An evening of kōrero, inspiration & connection - Are you ready for the next encounter with a drowning victim in the line-up?

We will share stories, learn from unique scenarios and learn vital lessons.

Have you been involved in a drowning incident or encountered an injured surfer - connect with us to share your story!

Free event

Registration only - limited seats

https://surflifesupport.eventbrite.com

06/02/2026

🌊 Ride the Wave, Stay in the Game! 🏄‍♂️
The Olympic Get Set – Train Smarter app is built for athletes who live for the ocean. Whether you’re charging heavy peaks or carving local breaks, this app is your ultimate partner to enhance performance and keep you out of the “wipeout zone.”
Tailored specifically for the surfing community, the app brings elite-level sports science right to your fingertips.

Why surfers need this in their quiver:
🔹 Boost Your Performance: Targeted exercises to explosive strength, razor-sharp flexibility, and better board control.
🔹 Stay Injury-Free: We focus on injury management so you can spend more time in the green room and less time on the sidelines.
🔹 Train Anywhere: No signal? No problem. Download your training videos and hit your routine even at the most remote surf camps.

The Get Set app, , and are the result of a powerhouse collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center. We are dedicated to pushing the limits of injury prevention and performance, especially for the next generation of youth athletes.
Don’t let an injury cut your session short. Train like an Olympian and protect your body.

👉 Grab the free app here:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/at/app/get-set-train-smarter/id894609112?l=en-GB

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.olympic.app.getset&hl=en-US

SurfingMed Skaderfri SurfLife AthleteHealth IOC SportsScience

05/02/2026

Shoulder injuries: surfing’s “silent” top‑3 problem
Heavy paddling, repeated pop‑ups and awkward wipeouts all load the same joint – until it fails.

Dr. L. Langenberg and colleagues from Surfing Medicine International () highlighted how common paddling‑related pain, impingement and dislocations are in surfers – and how much of this is preventable.

🔗 Dr. Langenberg’s shoulder research in surfers:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33409808/

Our goal was to make shoulder‑specific prevention standard in surf training, so fewer surfers end up here.

🔗 GET SET – Olympic injury‑prevention app with adaptable shoulder programmes for surfers:

https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/make-sure-your-body-is-ready-for-exercise-with-get-set-an-easy-to-use-injury-prevention-app

https://apps.apple.com/at/app/get-set-train-smarter/id894609112?l=en-GB

The image says it all: one bad moment in heavy surf.

EvolvingTogether

29/01/2026

Centuries of Experience. One Mission.

Look closely at this lineup. You aren’t just looking at surfers; you’re looking at a global collective of physicians, health professionals and researchers.
When you add up the cumulative experience of the community, you get centuries of medical expertise applied specifically to the ocean environment.

From drowning research to dermatology from prevention to training, this is the world’s largest "living laboratory" for surfing medicine.

Evolving together to ensure that wherever there are waves, there is world-class medical knowledge standing by.

🌍 Global Community. Evidence-Based Medicine. Safer Lineups.

21/01/2026

Sometimes what's needed most isn't a lecture or a protocol. It's a hand on the shoulder. A moment of presence. A human connection. 🤙

At Surfing Medicine International, we know that safety in the water starts with trust—between instructor and student, between experienced surfers and beginners, between people who care enough to show up.

Our work is built on this foundation: teaching the skills, yes. But also building the culture where surfers look out for each other, where knowledge flows naturally, and where asking for help is never weakness.

Every beach needs more of

19/01/2026

Every surfer can save a life. Be ready. The time will come! 🌊🩺🤙

We recently trained 28 Surf Coaches in water safety, rescue, and resuscitation at the high-performance surfing center in Viana do Castelo. Through this initiative, these experienced professionals are now even better equipped to act as protection and safety agents on our beaches.

This was a powerful collaboration between:
Viana Surf Club ()
Melgaço Higher School of Sport and Leisure ()
Surfing Medicine International ()

By bridging the gap between high-performance surfing and evidence-based medical response, we ensure that those leading the lineup are prepared for the moments that matter most.

14/01/2026

Never Stop Sharing
is proud to support !

SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR SURFING COACHES AT CAR SURF VIENNA🆘

The Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer de Melgaço - IPVC in collaboration with Surfing Medicine International and Surf Clube de Viana (SMI), held, last January 11, a training session on “Water Safety, Rescue and Reanimation Specific for Surfers”, at the High Performance Surfing Center of Viana do Castelo. 🛟

The session was coordinated by Joel de Oliveira (), certified by the IPDJ, I.P., granting credits (1.6) for revalidation of the professional title TPTD, and had the participation of 28 graduates from various points of the country. 🇵🇹

Rescue and water safety training plays a crucial role in surfing practice, being essential for athlete protection, preventing serious accidents and saving lives. In the context of training or competition, the ability to respond quickly and effectively to risk situations, such as drowning, trauma, extreme fatigue, or loss of consciousness can be crucial. ❤️

Correct ex*****on of rescue procedures contributes to reducing the severity of injuries, avoiding secondary complications and ensuring adequate intervention until specialized support arrives. At the same time, it promotes a safer and more confident environment for athletes, coaches and organizations. 🕊️

Mastery of these skills further strengthens the responsibility and professionalism of coaches, raising the standards of quality, safety and credibility of the modality. In short, rescue and resuscitation are key pillars in the training of all surfers, contributing to a safer, responsible and sustainable practice, thereby increasing the safety of coastal communities. 🌎

Good Vibes! Security at its best! 🏄 ♂️🌊⚓️

Viana Desporto
Fundação do Desporto
Federação Portuguesa de Surf
IPDJ - Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude, I.P.
Coordenada Decimal Associação de Nadadores Salvadores de Viana do Castelo
STOKE Certified
World Surf Cities Network
Surfing Medicine Intermational

31/12/2025

New Year is around the corner but the goal stays the same.

Every body can drown, nobody should!
Never stop teaching🤙🏻

“Keeping the Surfer Healthy and Safe”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS7pYfZCFHd/?igsh=ZGZxdno4NnV3ZDdh

29/12/2025

Fog, rock, shorebreak, swimmers and surfers all sharing the same narrow channel. 🌫️🌊

Scenes like this are why Surfing Medicine International exists. Visibility drops, kids play near rocks, surfers paddle through tight gaps – and one misjudged decision can turn a holiday beach into a high‑risk environment.

Our work on surfingmed.com focuses on:
reading beaches and micro‑hazards like channels and rock shelves
preparing surfers and instructors to act as safe bystanders
turning research on drowning, crowding and injuries into practical teaching for real beaches

This is the everyday classroom for Surfing Medicine.

28/12/2025

Learning on the beach, checking the details, refining the message. 🌊📋

At Surfing Medicine International, every course is treated like a : discussed, challenged and ‑reviewed by clinicians, surf coaches and researchers.

Content, scenarios and language are examined from all angles so what reaches surfers and instructors is clear, practical and evidence‑based.

Continuous learning for a safer lineup.

"The Medicine We Love"
www.surfingmed.com

Address

Wainui Rd
Raglan
3297

Website

http://www.surfingmed.com/

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