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 the paddle, hold it just below the blade and point it in front of you; swim with the other hand.

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

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

If a paddle is in the water and the paddler can't fully remount, get her half out of the water so she is either lying across your boat or hers. This can add valuable minutes while you wait for help.