10/18/2026
When we protect our athletes, we protect Surfing.
From practicing popping up on your foam board on the beach to chasing mavericks, surfing is always a rush of emotions. Whether you are trying to catch your first wave or pass your heat in competition, surfing requires knowledge and respect for the tides and breaks. On top of that, it takes strength, balance, and cardio. Wax your board, grab your wetsuit, and ride the waves. When we protect surfers, we keep this sport safe and healthy for all.
Courage First Athlete Helpline
Use this resource if you are in need of confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, informational athlete-focused resources, and guidance related to concerns about any type of abuse.
The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call and text service for anyone in need. +1 888-279-1026
Common Surfing Safeguarding Concerns
Abuse and misconduct can happen in all sports, at every level of play. Surfing has some specific vulnerabilities, such as:
- Surfing often involves open-water environments and potential adverse conditions such as high winds, large waves, marine life, and rip currents, all requiring a high level of physical safeguarding. Ignoring these environmental factors and not teaching athletes how to determine safety can be seen as negligent.
- Close relationships can develop between athletes and coaches, and competitions result in increased amounts of one-on-one interactions. These relationships can develop while the athlete is still young because of early sport specialization, and boundaries can become blurred.
- In surfing, there is often pressure to increase the extremity of skills, such as more difficult environments and waves, which may place athletes at risk of injury or even death, especially if they do not understand all of the risks. Minor athletes in particular may not be able to fully understand and consent to risk and danger.
What’s the difference between tough coaching & abuse?
The Coach Athlete Relationship Dynamics Diagrams below can be used as a gut check; consider the conduct you experience and observe in your sporting community, and discern whether what is occurring aligns with a caring and supportive coach-athlete relationship. For athletes who have unhealthy relationship dynamics with their coaches, inappropriate behavior can be subtle and difficult to discern. Awareness and prevention of these patterns of power and control help keep everyone safe.
Current Events
Unfortunately, news articles chronicling misconduct in sport and unhealthy coach-athlete dynamics are frequent and widespread. Abuse in sport has been occurring for decades, and the public is now becoming aware of these hidden situations as more and more survivors bravely disclose and report misconduct they have experienced. #WeRideTogether is committed to increasing awareness and continually updating this compiled list of current events on the topic of sexual abuse in sport. Sexual misconduct is happening across all sports, at all levels, internationally.
12/4/2025
Former Queensland surf coach Connor Lyons jailed for sexually abusing children
10/28/2025
Men 'verbally abuse' teen girls competing in surf contest
4/7/2025
Bombshell admission from young surf coach accused of grooming children
10/18/2026
Youth Sports Families Allege Travel Company Threatened Their Kids' Playing Status If They Didn't Pay Lodging Fees
10/15/2026
Athletic trainer at San Jose school accused of sexual battery of student
10/14/2026
Details emerge on police raid of ex-Kempsville High School athletic director’s home
10/11/2026
As sports betting is normalized, college players have become targets of aggrieved bettors
Surfing Resources
Below are resources related to Physical Safety and Environmental Safety within Surfing.
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A Dermatologist's Guide to Sun Protection for Surfers
Physical Safety
Learn about the importance of skin protection in surfing.
Drowning Prevention - Learn
Physical Safety
Use this resource for education on how to handle near drowning incidents and drowning education.
Float to Survive - How to Get out of Rip Currents
Environmental Safety
Gain an understanding of rip current safety.
When should surfers wear helmets?
Physical Safety
Understand injury prevention and the benefits of helmets in surfing.
Survivor Stories
Survivors are increasingly stepping forward to bravely tell their stories. The following stories reflect the survivors’ personal experiences, as told by them, and may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct. All information has been anonymized.
If you are a survivor interested in sharing your story and learning more about this process, please reach out to us at info@weridetogether.today.
We want to hear from you!
You are not alone.
What resources or information do you want for your sport? Contact us and let us know.
If you or someone you know has experienced misconduct or abuse, please access these resources for help. For additional information on confidential helplines, sexual assault reporting procedures, and mental health resources, click the button below.
View Crisis Resources
