In
surfing, a
rip is a
current
where
water which has been brought into the
beach
by
breaking waves goes back
out to sea. Sometimes
a
rip will go sideways along the
beach before going out to sea. The water usually rips
back out in a spot where the
bottom is
deeper,
and therefore the
waves don't
break there as much.
This makes rips much loved by
surfers, because they
make it much
easier to get out behind the line of
breaking waves. Rips can be very
dangerous for
swimmers, especially if they don't have
experience
swimming in
surf.
If you get
caught in a rip, don't try to swim
against the current. Swim
sideways out of the rip,
and then
catch a wave back to
shore.