You may prepare yourself for breaking your paddle by practicing paddling with half your paddle. Store half your paddle on your aft deck and paddle with the other half. Practice in progressively rougher waters.

If you have to swim with paddle then hold it just below blade and point in front of you; swim with the other hand.

If your paddling partner has lost their paddle, attach use your tow rope (see gear section) and paddle them to safety. If you don't have a tow rope, pull your boat up next to theirs and put your foot in their footwell. Each person paddles on their side of the surfski raft formed by the two skis. Split your paddle in half if you need to.

• If another surfer loses their ski, paddle them to shore on the back deck of your ski.

If a paddle is in the water and can't fully remount. Get them half out of the water so they are either lying across your boat or theirs. This can add valuable minutes while you wait for help.