Surfing Tragedy Needs Discussion

I just read something very interesting and equally tragic: Riding a Waikiki wave robs a man of his legs. It's about a man who suffers from surfer's myelopathy. According to the story, this is a condition that afflicts beginning surfers who "arch their back too frequently or too long while on a surfboard." The man in this case, Joe Guintu, is paralyzed from the stomach down. No doubt, we collectively hope and pray for his recovery, but who would have ever thought about the possibility of something like that? It comes out of nowhere...In the same news cycle, there's a story on beginning surfers who have incurred spinal injuries while learning to surf. There are always dangers in the water from sharks to reef, so we should always be careful out there. But stories like these make you want to hug your parents and kids and thank the stars we are healthy and find ways we can help those who have suffered such tragic misfortune.

If you have any experience with surfer's myelopathy or any other surf related ailments, head over to the surfing forum and post a thread for discussion. These are issues that need to be out there to possibly avoid future injuries.