The Koa Rothman Pipe INJURY & RESCUE | Nightmare Situation For One of the World's Best Barrel Riders

[@noelytoast]

Maximum respect for the lifeguards at Pipe. Tough job out there and risking their own bacon so these shredders can surf these waves that entertain us all. ❤️❤️❤️

[@FromTheMosh]

Great job by the lifeguards. Lotta people forget pipe takes lives regularly. Great to see the helmets catching on.

[@NCGnarly123]

I think helmets are case by case. A lot of guys have their first head injuries wearing helmets for the first time because it distorts and inhibits their spatial awareness. Koa most recent video after this injury sort of backs up that issue.

[@bastian_salazar_spoerer]

@@NCGnarly123 best pipe surfer Jaime O'brien always wear his helmet. If you can not handle surfing with helmet you are not ready for pipe

[@FrankTankFlinns]

the vids don't even do it justice, real-time moving so much faster, these waves are thick, incredible power. stay safe

[@kaleihaokamekona7894]

The most dangerous waves at pipeline are the 6-8 foot double ups. Look closely and you will see it feather from the take off, back off then load up again and detonate on the reef.

[@mattgurin6168]

Yup, nuts that wave

[@manifest8082]

Pipe/Backdoor is no joke! I had to get 6 stitches in my head after my first wave while bodyboarding over 10yrs ago…

[@brodiwheeler7583]

Pipe Lifeguards really workin hard this season!

[@OffDaLip]

They really earn their pay when pipe is big, eh?

[@brodiwheeler7583]

@@OffDaLip Pipe just seems extra ledgey, double-upey, shallow and detonating nasty bounces on the inside this year… or maybe it’s always been this violent, we’re just getting more of a look at it these last couple years with all the great footy from you and the other filmers. Stay safe all you chargers, and God Bless the Lifeguards!

[@TickTock-jo4to]

He was saying he would wear a helmet after the previous injury only a few weeks ago.

[@OffDaLip]

Good. I remember watching his podcast where he said that he just didn't feel right surfing in a helmet. But I'm sure you can get used to it. Football helmets don't feel good at first either

[@anthonyruiz3796]

One of the top riders at pipe get injured that place is no joke glad he's recovered and back out there where a helmet

[@archierose1432]

No disrespect, he’s a good surfer. But he’s not a top surfer. Not even a top local. More a local local local . He should defiantly have a helmet on.

[@ronnyron6939]

@@archierose1432 Not even a top local? Man that comment is in contention for kook comment of the year man. I'm not even a big Koa fan but give credit where credit is due...

[@archierose1432]

@@ronnyron6939 I did. He’s good. There are just better local guys than him. A number of them.

[@hannotn]

@@archierose1432 *definitely*

[@ronnyron6939]

@@archierose1432 If you mean better local surfers in the sense of like all around surfing all over the north shore well yes I would agree. Koa's small wave surfing is decent but of course that's not his bread and butter. If you limit it just pipeline, he's certainly one of the best locals and/or pipe specialists out there.

[@Surfuofficial]

I am glad he is okay

[@bwhit716]

The second time in a couple of weeks. Hope he’s okay🙏🏼

[@teddelfranco9786]

nah its the same one

[@OffDaLip]

this was the first one. I just waited to upload it because I wanted to make sure he was okay first

[@OffDaLip]

@@teddelfranco9786 correct

[@charliedillon1400]

@@OffDaLip I respect your discretion, man

[@bwhit716]

@@OffDaLip coincidence…. Koa just dropped a vid regarding the injury and helmet topic 40 mins ago

[@NullUnit2]

I know it's not the same situation but looks like a similar spot to where Kala was injured during Da Hui last year?

[@marciooliveirafanning3865]

Pipe tá foda...já é sétimo.. que se dar mau !!

[@TickTock-jo4to]

This is from yesterday or a few weeks ago?

[@OffDaLip]

Few weeks ago. Wanted to make sure the injury wasn't anything life threatening before i uploaded. It was pretty heavy, his girl was there to see it. I chose to leave out a few heavy moments from the rescue

[@Strawman333]

🙏🏼

[@jimreplicant]

Thats crazy the whitewater got him?

[@ValenzuelaNico]

This year pipe beats the best.

[@OffDaLip]

Which one was the worst in your opinion?

[@skippern7059]

Isn’t that from a few weeks ago

[@OffDaLip]

Yea, I just didn't want to post too soon. Wanted to make sure he was alright first

[@skippern7059]

Yea he’s fine now I’m sure you know ! Love this Chanel

[@mitseraffej5812]

Was his injury caused by the wave that got him after the wave he rode?

[@OffDaLip]

It was from the wave he rode…I think

[@AtortAerials]

Pipe wrecks so many it’s amazing they still froth to go there every second it’s pumping. Yikes

[@dreammaker9642]

To be fair pipe is infamous and has more injuries because there’s a lot of people out there but if you go anywhere on that stretch of beach from keiki all the way till sunset it’s the same smoke on a pumping swell. From my experience Hawaii has the best waves but it comes at a price. Spend enough time there and these waves will rock your shit no matter how good or experienced you are. Worth it tho.

[@wackogrinder4203]

I had a similar situation where i got smashed on the reef, just after the wave detonated behind me.

[@dreammaker9642]

Learned that one the hard way too at gas chambers just a past the sand bars. Always thought the highest risk was wiping out during take of or getting clipped (even though that’s never fun) but turns out it’s getting caught by that white water that does the trick most of the time. Early year swell it was barrelling all over the place, after catching a few decent lefts I ended up getting spooked because I almost went head first on a shallow part before getting caught inside so I has enough. Tried paddle for white water to get back to the beach as you do but turns out Hawaii is built different so when it’s big that’s a bad idea on a short board. Long story short I got sucked up held in and dragged into the shallows very quickly where the wave nonchalantly slammed my head on the concrete reef. Didn’t hit too hard, kind felt like when you get up too fast and hit your head on something. It hurts and is annoying but you’ll be alright. Kinda spooked me for a while cause I remember the water was super merky due to the heavy rains so you couldn’t see where the shallow spots were. You kind of just go off the ripple on the surface or the wave. When I’m told to use my head to figure it out, I don’t think that’s what they meant. Figured the left over white water was strong enough to do me like that, you definitely don’t want to fall in the wrong spot when the wave breaks.

[@wackogrinder4203]

Thanks for sharing your experience, i also felt how the white water took me "up" , and right after that spinned me down onto the reef. I guess by trying to get in I just rode to far into the shallow zone, or i should have just jumped or something, i think than the thing would have probably went over me.

[@wagnervieirasantiago8983]

Nearly

[@johnorr9373]

6-8 high tide gonna bleed.

[@dylan_lvn]

W lifeguards

[@sanfranciscobay]

Did he hit his head on the Reef or his Board?

[@BananaBabys]

Reef for sure. But it’s possible a fin can draw blood.

[@HLsab]

Since this accident I can’t help but think Koa or Nate will one day film their own death .

[@MichaelBrown-ny3et]

No helmet.

[@OffDaLip]

You think we'll be seeing him with a helmet from now on?

[@thomasbrown9599]

@@OffDaLip Looks like he's wearing them in his just dropped video!

[@dynamitedmoney]

Sending you lotsa aloha get well ❤️‍🩹

[@josehpwilliams348]

Click bait old old old news

[@OffDaLip]

Wanted to wait to post it. Also, I don’t think you know what “click bait” is

[@josehpwilliams348]

I'm not the one trying to get views@@OffDaLip

[@andrewmair7371]

@@josehpwilliams348My sentiments exactly - 😑

[@vickryan]

Some kind of compression, I assume. He made the ride, so the whitewash ran over him. Maybe compressed him downward, and hit the reef???

[@dreammaker9642]

See that explosion of white water behind him? Yeah that will ruin your day… essentially whenever you see a wave do that it means two things one it’s a big wave with a lot of energy behind it (in the case of pipe and Hawaii in general it’s so ouch worse cause those waves have been travelling unempeeded and unleash on that reef. The second thing it means is that it got really shallow really quick. That wave just stood up and the lip hit dry reef which makes that explosion. So if you get caught by it, you are not in for a good time. Then you also have to worry about the waves behind it coming for you. All and all not a good situation to find yourself in but sometimes you don’t get much of a choice. Besides when you fall on waves like this even if it’s not shallow where you fell the wave can hold you down and drag you into the reef. That’s also how you can end up in a cave.

[@vickryan]

@@dreammaker9642 I've never surfed in Hawaii. My surfing experiences always led me to the fear of being held down. I rarely hit bottom. But a long hold down can drown you, also. (in deep water, I mean.) Pipeline I know (I've heard) is very shallow with caves underwater. Every surf spot, not only you gotta know the wave conditions, but gotta learn each break, too, as the dangers can vary from one surf spot to another. Important to be aware of the situation. Then you proceed to surf, but at least you are knowledgeable of what risks are around you.

[@OffDaLip]

@dreammaker9642 well said. Yea, no one even saw what happened and Koa doesn't remember. I just filmed him at pipe this week and he's out there without a helmet. Thoughts?

[@dreammaker9642]

@@vickryan yeah surfing in Hawaii is what I would describe a humbling experience. I learned to surf in South Africa so shallow reef breaks are not as common and I would rarely venture to them. When I moved to hawaii for a few years I soon realized you don’t have a choice since everywhere is pretty shallow to normal standards but you figure your way around by trial and error and learn where. It to be and when not to be there. North shore is definitely less forgiving tho. I mean anywhere really past 8ft is not going to be a walk on the park and could actually kill you if you ain’t careful. Haleiwa for example is one that lied to me. I was afraid of hitting the reef there but oh no, that wave will hold you down and won’t let go until it’s decided the rinse cycle is over. It can happen quick, I just fell funny got my breath knocked out of me, lip hit me like a car and I was in for the cycle. Never been that close to blacking out and I was toast if I did. Also decided to wipe out on the first wave of the set 🙃 because I don’t learn. So yeah it quickly went from I’m having a nice morning sesh to I need to fight for my life right now. Took me a while to shake off but it felt like I had somehow created a bond with the place. I was being too cocky and the ocean gave me a little reminder that it can get out of hand fast. I gained a lot of respect for that wave that day and even when I go back to SA where waves feel so much more forgiving for the same size. I still get that little voice telling me remember that day when I’m about to do something stupid risky like going out to 12-15ft swells when it’s ripping hard and there’s not a soul in the water or the beach. I’m like I can take this but I also know things can go side ways very fast and these are the very conditions where if something goes wrong they won’t find my body. Haleiwa likely saved my life by almost claiming it.

[@vickryan]

@@dreammaker9642 yes, well first let me say thank you for sharing all of this. This is your life story and life's work. My main comment is this, I want them to at least find my body! LOL..... What I'm trying to say is, if you surf in front of a lifeguard station, or at a crowded place, there's alot more likely that somebody will save you. When it's those remote places with nobody around, yes you can score great waves, but I'm at a point in my life where I prefer if a few people are nearby, if not a full blown lifeguard house with jet skis and ambulances. LOL. #SurfSmart. #BeWell. #FightTheGoodFight.

[@BobCarvalho]

🐍🚬 a cobra tá fumando em Pipe e Backdoor!!

[@OffDaLip]

pretty gnarly, eh?

[@FrankTankFlinns]

the vids don't even do it justice, real-time moving so much faster, these waves are thick, incredible power. stay safe

[@ADVJunkie]

I sure hope the helmets catch on. it’s got to feel weird the first few sessions wearing one. But these guys that are charging monster slabs are only one wave away from a bad injury at anytime and I love watching them charge.