www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/167220/bede-durbidge-injured-billabong-pipe-masters

And that sort of thing is why I wear a Gath (not that it would have protected his hip, but it would have been far worse if he hit his head).

Nobody plans an accident

And hitting my board has caused significant injuries in the past - I will keep surfing so a collision eventually is probably inevitiable.

Anyway, all the best to Bede. It sounds horrible.

Hope Bede pulls through this. And the other fellas who have been smashed of late.

Yep. I wear a Gath every surf. People still laugh at me. Funny thing is they love to laugh about all the skin they lose on their backs, arms and legs from the reefs. The best thing I have found about the Gath is the relaxation I find when I am getting smashed. Instead of panicking about getting my head pounded I can just relax and go with it - count to 7 - 1,000, 1001, 1002, etc whilst concentrating on getting my legs and arms out of harms way. I hope I never get the benefit of my Gath - just like insurance - because if I do get smashed in the head then I know I will be in serious trouble. But it's great not having to worry about it as much whilst getting drilled.