Public Safety · Education

Know the water before you go

Turnagain Arm draws growing crowds to the bore tide. Conditions here are not simply “tiny, small, or good” — they are cold, fast, and unforgiving. Learn the hazards before you go, and help others do the same.

SELF-CHECK · INTERACTIVE Safe Surfer Self-Check Start the self-check＋

An honest readiness check before you enter the water. This is self-education — not a certification or permission to surf — and it does not replace real skills or an experienced local guide.

Readiness statements — check each one that is honestly true for you

I have surfed or paddled moving, cold water before. I understand how the Turnagain Arm bore tide forms and how fast it moves. I know today’s tide timing and conditions — from more than a single rating word. I’m in a properly fitted cold-water wetsuit or drysuit, not a thin suit. I have booties, a leash, and cold-water-appropriate flotation. I am not going alone, and someone on shore knows my plan. I have a clear exit plan and a turn-back point. I know the signs of hypothermia and what to do. I understand there are no lifeguards here — the only rescue is each other.

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Check each statement that is honestly true for you.

Nothing you check is saved or sent — this is for your own reflection.

Education is not a guarantee of safety and is no substitute for real skills, local knowledge, or an experienced guide. Conditions change quickly. In an emergency, call 911.