Big waves claim another...

[PonoBill]

Ear plugs? No diving background I'm guessing. Put some in and go down a few feet....you will get your answer as to there suitability....

Yup, really, really bad idea. I remember some folks experimenting with plugs that fit the bowl of the ear to keep them from being pushed in. At 30 feet you have about 30 pounds per square inch shoving them into you ear, and that's where they go. Getting them back out was undoubtedly interesting.

That was a grim-looking fall. I've seen worse, but we all know that luck is a piece of this, even in much smaller waves. RIP brother.

[maui wave warrior]

You are correct I have no diving background. However, I used silicone ear plugs for 2 mths after I ruptured my drum while surfing  and had no problems. I got worked plenty in those 2 months without any issues.  My Doctor recommended I use them to protect the drum if I was insisting on going in the surf while the drum was healing.
Perhaps in big surf with a deep water hold down it would be a different story. I can say that breaking my drum was absolutley the most terrifying water experience, I am very lucky to be alive after my ordeal. It is a situation which many surfers don't really think about until it happens to them. I would imagine a good way to prevent it is to wear a helmet that covers the ears. 

[PonoBill]

They're fine on the surface, fifteen feet under, and sometimes less, you're in big trouble.

[Beasho]

Pretty sure he broke his ear drum which led to his dis-orientation and drowning.

What's up with the ear drum speculation?  Did anyone ever find the guy.  The fact that he drowned is nearly absolute (98%) because he was held underwater.  

I will reiterate that if you want to surf big waves WEAR FLOAT.  Sion was the only case of a big wave rider who drowned wearing float.  This was after charging for several hours at Mavericks (tired) and then falling in the worst possible spot and taking 8 waves on the head.  Add to this anyone who has worked in sales recalls that the example of "one time . . ." is essentially zero.

Gravity will work for you every time, in reverse.   If your worried about it getting ripped off like Maya in Portugal then wear one under your wetsuit.  Out here some people wear one under their wetsuit and then a full tilt pfd over their wetsuit.  

The human body is neutrally buoyant so any float provides you with an infinite advantage.  It will also give a boost to your confidence until you break the next weakest link in the chain.

[jd]

From what has been written, the ear drum speculation comes from accounts by people we were there watching what he was doing.

[maui wave warrior]

Body was not found and search was called off after two days. At least he went out doing what he loved.

[newton333]

impact vest may of saved his life. i wore one for 1st time  2 yrs ago in puerto rico in 15 ft + waves.  slammed hard and landed on paddle against water. have no doubt the vest saved my life! plus helped me float to surface always pulling me up... not down even when i tried to swim to bottom.

[Beasho]

Here is some follow up on Kirk Passmore highlighting the benefits of preparation and float.  

I love how they speculate "IF HE WAS WEARING A VEST, MAYBE THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED HIM, MAYBE NOT. BUT, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MITIGATING THE RISK."  

How about: His chances of survival, and retrieval, would have increased.  That's all you can ever ask for.

At least Brian Keaulana talks some sense.  Treat the sport like football and increase awareness regarding survivability.

Article here with Video:
http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/safety-comes-into-focus-after-surfers-death/-/8905354/23061622/-/9ydscmz/-/index.html?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=google%2Bplus&utm_campaign=kitv%2Bgoogle%2Bplus

[Beasho]

WAIALUA, Hawaii —Last week's tragic death of 32-year-old Kirk Passmore in 20-foot surf has fellow big wave riders on Oahu's North Shore focused on how to minimize risks.
On Tuesday, experienced waterman and former Makaha lifeguard Brian Keaulana led a workshop at the Turtle Bay Resort for more than 50 big wave riders from across the globe.
Keaulana said the workshop is a chance to share knowledge and discuss the latest technological advancements in the burgeoning arena of big wave riding.
"When you talk about danger, it's really about the knowledge that you have because what decreases danger is knowledge," said Keaulana.
The workshop has become an annual event after the death of Sion Milosky in 2011 while surfing the break Mavericks in Northern California. Milosky's friend Kohl Christensen came up with the idea after realizing he didn't know basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.
"We got everybody together so I wouldn't feel helpless if my buddy or some other surfer went down," said Christensen. "At least I could look back and say I did my best, rather than feel helpless."
Although surfing is the ultimate expression of individualism, one of the main ideas fostered during the workshop is teamwork, especially when the waves get massive.
"In big wave surfing, it's really about the team that you surf with, all the individuals you surf with," said Keaulana. "You surround yourself with knowledgeable, professional people that are out in an ocean environment."
The workshop also spent a great deal of time examining the pros and cons of inflatable vests that are charged with CO2 canisters. Such vests can help a surfer reach the surface faster and keep him there if he's injured or unconscious.
Some big wave surfers believe Passmore may have survived his wipeout at outside Alligator Rock last Wednesday had he been wearing an inflatable vest. Passmore made the drop on a 20-foot wave, but was blasted by the lip after catching an edge and diving forward.
"If he was wearing a vest, maybe that would have helped him, maybe not," said Christensen. "But, that's one of those things we're talking about, mitigating the risk."
"When you're out in that kind of environment, there really is not a lifeguard out there, unless you hire them," added Keaulana. "There really is nothing that exists out there until you create those safety mechanisms."
However, there is a bit of controversy surrounding the continuing development of inflatable vests. While Patagonia only offers them to experienced big wave surfers, Billabong's V1 will soon be available to the public.
Billabong team rider Shane Dorian addressed the obvious concern while explaining the development of the V1 to fellow surfers at the workshop.
"Everyone says, 'Oh, we don't want kooks to have these things because then it'll enable them to paddle out at the outer reefs when they shouldn't be out there in the first place,'" said Dorian, "but, I don't think there's any solution to that to be honest."
According to the Hawaii Department of Health, 16 surfers and body boarders died on the North Shore from 1993 to 2012. All of the victims were males, between the ages of 17 and 55. Half of those who died were Hawaii residents, five were from the mainland and the remaining three hailed from foreign countries. Fourteen of the drownings occurred between November and March, with one death each in July and August.

[headmount]

Good point Beasho.

This is also a controversy in the mountains with the use of Avy-packs that inflate and supposedly float you to the surface of kilotons of snow.  The naysayers point to them enabling people to take risks on slopes they might not risk without one.  But I have a guide pal in BC that uses one.  He's had his share of lost and buried friends.  He is also a father of three.  I respect him to the highest degree when he says, "Why screw around?"