Insane dash cam footage shows two foam surfboards flying off an orange Range Rover on a busy highway in Queensland, Australia recently. No one was hurt, but damn if it’s not anxiety-inducing as both boards quickly come loose from their straps and become airborne projectiles hurtling toward oncoming traffic.
The video above was uploaded to the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook Page, which is a rabbit hole of auto accidents and close calls. We may or may not have inadvertently killed an hour or two scrolling through them, wincing.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: foam surfboards, nice car, weird color. Maybe this guy or gal is new to the sport. We refuse to pass judgment, and accidents happen to the best of us, but Facebook comments weren’t quite so understanding. Neither was the driver who captured the video saying, “Occy straps? You fucking knob,” as he passes.
“I reckon it’s about f*** ing time that the cops start cracking down on this s*** before someone gets killed. This is about the third video in a few weeks that this has happened,” wrote Bill Livings on Facebook.
“Too many times I see this shit on the roads. Are people so stupid, and too damn lazy to do the right thing?” wrote Matthew Riley.
As the car that captured the scene via dashcam passes the Range Rover, a hand can be seen out the window on the driver’s side, causing some from the Dash Cam Owners Australia group to wonder if there were even any straps to begin with.
“Was the hand out the window a last-ditch attempt to keep the boards grounded, or did they actually think they could drive home holding them on the roof?” wrote Brent Ponsonby.
A few years ago, we addressed the question of putting surfboards on top of your ride fins front or back and the piece was highly polarizing. A Caltech aeronautics professor argued fins back was more aerodynamic, but some seasoned surfers said putting your fins first is a failsafe of sorts – stopping your shred stick from sliding if your straps loosen.
Whatever your preference, we highly recommend giving your boards a wiggle before you drive away to check for adequate tightness. And avoid bungee cords.
