Marc Fontrodona and Ander Ordoño

10

curious things you didn't know about...

SURFING

A surfer spends only 8% of the time in the water surfing. More time is spent paddling (54%) or waiting for waves (28%).

In Australia, surfers save as many lives as lifeguards. Every year, 5,000 people are saved by each group.

The most common injuries for which surfers visit medical centres are cuts to the face and head (15%), followed by sprains (7%).

The white shark's fixation on surfers is due to the fact that they are mistaken for seals and sea lions because of their shape.

The price of a surf lesson in the US can range from $25 to $100. The highest prices are   in Norway ($112) while in Ecuador it can be as little as $19.

There is a connection between surfers and our ancestors, the Neanderthals. It's the phenomenon known today as "surfer's ear" - a condition caused by repeated exposure to cold water and wind.

"Celebrating a wave", which is known as a 'claim', increases the score of participants in a surfing event.

The profile of the average American surfer is: male, 38 years old, university-educated, spends €35 per session and has four boards.

The International Surfing Association estimates that there are more than 23 million surfers worldwide, but adds that this is a difficult figure to calculate.

The global surf industry currently generates $4 billion per year. At the rate it is growing it could exceed $5 billion by 2028.