If you’re worried about being attacked by a shark; don’t. The chances of being bitten by your surfboard are far greater. Well, unless you live in Western Australia or South Africa. Then you might be a little worried about sharks. Still, the nose of your surfboard very well may be your biggest threat while surfing. These fiberglass bayonets can stab, hack, gash, slash, lacerate, cut, pierce, stick, and impale eyeballs, necks, faces, and sexual organs. No matter where that nose decides to land after being tossed around in the foam ball, it’s not going to be pretty. Luckily, Surf Co Hawaii makes some killer nose guards to mitigate chances of severe injury inflicted by the nose of your surfboard.

While surfing Sunset Beach five years ago, Luke Kennedy, an editor over at Tracks Magazine, was struck in the neck with the nose his surfboard. It nearly killed him, had it not been for the paramedics on the beach. Andrew Mainsbridge of Newport, Australia told the Sydney Morning Herald that he vividly recalls his specialist’s choice of words following a horrific accident: “We’re going to have to scoop your eye out.” Storm Portman, a 14-year-old girl from Florida, was just struck by the nose of her surfboard a few months ago and doctors were uncertain if she would ever see again. These are just a few among the thousands of avoidable injuries that occur every year.

Some people who acknowledge the danger in surfboards have gone so far as to campaign to take the sharp edges off surfboards to reduce the risk of a penetrating injury. George Greenough from Byron Bay argues flat noses should become a safety standard and advises surfers to saw the tops off their boards. However, prospects of this ever transpiring seem bleak and highly unlikely, to say the least. Nose guards, on the other hand, are a much cheaper and more feasible option. Using a peel and stick application, Surf Co Hawaii’s nose guards are easy to apply and come in a variety of colors. SUPs, shortboards, longboards, kiteboards – they’ve got it all. Nose guards are a smart choice for surfers who are looking to protect themselves, other surfers and, or course, their boards.

Check out SurfCoHawaii or visit your local surf shop to get your own nose guards.