Always wear a leash story from the Zone...

".... here is my, almost, horror story:

I recently got an in inflatable stand up paddle board (iSUP) as a Father's Day present from my wife. When were purchasing the board, the sales person recommended that we get a leash; as the wind might quickly blow the board away if you fall into the water .... At the time, I stupidly thought, "... well, if I fall off the board, I will just swim back to it'. So we did not get leash for our SUP board that day.

I considered myself an intermediate Paddle Boarder. Event thought this was the first SUP I owned, I had rented SUP’s many times before. I frequently take my young children out with me, with them sitting down on the board, on the calm water bay areas of San Diego. Like many other people I see paddle boarding; at least on the waterways of San Diego, I don't wear a leash and only strap a life vest to the board, but don’t actually wear it.

Fast forward to August 5, 2016, during our vacation to the Yosemite National Park area. We drove into the park and decided take our iSUP Board out onto Tenya Lake.

I took my young son, who was 6 years old, out with me .... he was wearing a child's life-vest. I only strapped my life-vest to the board. The Tenya Lake beach area was pretty crowded with people that day.

As my son and I paddled out onto the lake, the afternoon winds started to pick up and the chop on the water increased. I decided to turn around and started to bring the iSUP back to the beach area from where we started ...... as we made the turn, with the wind now at my back, I lost my footing and fell off the back of the board into the water .... the wind very quickly blew my iSUP 15 to 20 feet away from me with my son still sitting on it.

I immediately tried to start swimming back to the board, but with wind blowing at least 10 mph, it quickly blew the board away from me quicker then I could swim. And with the cool water temperature and the high altitude of over 8,000 feet, I quickly became very tired .... I quickly realized I was not going to get back to the board .... and started to struggle to just tread water .... and I soon became very exhausted ..... I was doing all I could do just to keep my head above the water.

By this time, we were about 200 feet from the shore of the lake ..... I prompted my son to start yelling for help .... and I did the same .... by this time, my son was obviously very scared .... though he was still on the board and was wearing his life-vest .... and the wind was blowing him back to the shore of beach from where we started .... I, on the other hand, was starting to drown.

On that day, I believe Angels over looking us ...... there happened to be three off duty Yosemite EMT's and a triathlete near by at the beach that day.

The triathlete swam got out to me very quickly to provide some support ... two of the EMT's soon followed and were carrying a flotation device …. with me grabbing on to the flotation device, the three of them pulled me to shore …. The third EMT swim out to my son and pulled him and the board back to shore.

In the end, we were all safe …. though was I was within 1 minute or less of drowning ….. one of EMT's later told me that when he first got out to me, it was very obvious my body was starting to go into shock.

In summary, I almost died ..... if those EMT’s and triathlete where not near by at the lake that day or we were farther out on the lake, this story could have ended very differently.

LESSONS LEARNED:
- When stand up paddle boarding, always wear the leash that attaches to the board. The wind can blow your board away from you very quickly. This would have been a non- incident if I was just wearing a leash …. And I almost drown by making the stupid mistake of not wearing one (or even owning one at the time).

- Always wear, don’t just bring along, some type person floatation device when on the water. Having a personal flotation device just strapped to my board made it absolutely useless when I fell off suddenly.

- Swimming and treading in a fresh water lake is a lot harder then in saltwater or in a swimming pool.

- Being at high evaluations (any place over 4,000 feet) can quickly lead to exhaustion. This is especially true for anyone who normally lives at sea level.

- Even in August, the alpine lake water temperatures are colder in comparison to what most people to are used to ... this can also lead to quicker exhaustion and your body going into shock.

p.s., And now, I am the proud owner of a $20 coiled SUP Leash and I ALWAYS WEAR IT .... YES, SUP Leashes DO SAVE LIVES .... and NOT wearing one might result in a story like mine, but with NOT such a fortunate ending."

There's a lesson in there about wearing a life jacket/PFD as well. Particularly on Alpine waters.

Select to expand quote

magillamelb said..
There's a lesson in there about wearing a life jacket/PFD as well. Particularly on Alpine waters.

Wearing.

I just don't get this idea of strapping a PFD to your board and thinking it's going to help you.

Select to expand quote

HumanCartoon said..

magillamelb said..
There's a lesson in there about wearing a life jacket/PFD as well. Particularly on Alpine waters.

Wearing.

I just don't get this idea of strapping a PFD to your board and thinking it's going to help you.

Poseidon frowns upon those who foolishly thumb their nose at safety. People don't strap their PFD to the board with any thoughts of ever using it. They do it because it is the minimum legal requirement (in America). Kind of like using an inflatable waist belt PFD without ever having opened it up to see how it works or how to strap it on and blow it up in an emergency. I'm tipping most owners of inflatable PFDs are guilty of that.

I had a similar problem while in the UK and this is not a reflection on all people from the UK but I was out surfing in Newquay and I got in an argument about leashes. Seems when you live on an island that is within chopper flight and rescue services personal safety seems to be less of a high priority. I was wearing a leash out in 2 foot rolling waves and these brits seem to think it was a joke me wearing a leash. I explained to them that it was for their safety if i fell off and my board might hit them. They took this as that I couldn't control my board. The heckling started. Now I wasn't going to say anything but in Australia you just need to wear one.
After taking up suping its even more important as you can very quickly paddle into places where you really need the paddle.
When surfing you really dont go out when you are not confident you can swim in. The most scared I have been is when 'i was held down for 3 waves at my home break, I was always confident I could swim in.
When supping i often find myself out on the lake where I would struggle to swim in from and find it even more difficult to prone paddle back to shore.
i always wear a leash on my sup and have moved to wearing a flotation device if paddling in deeper water than I can stand up in. I am going to have to practice prone paddling even more in the surf.

Thanks for posting DJ

Encouraging compulsory leg-rope use on SUP's at daily safety briefings and at a SUP point of sale can be tiresome, yet I take this information sharing part of my job very seriously for the obvious reasons.

Having first hand written story's like the above perhaps on a laminated A4 could be a good way to reveal the reality of what can happen without a leg-rope/ safety leash.

Could SUP Vic. and/or any other state body's potentially look at producing a poster or flyer we could hand out or reveal to customers upon hiring or purchasing a SUP ?

If any other breezers know of local story's like the above lets get them documented and use them.

Unfortunately I have become a bit of a verbal leg-rope authority at our beach location at Sorrento as too many users arrive with new boards and no leg-rope.
Its a ****ty situation as the beach is such a free area without many rules and regulations and I find I am lecturing to the unwilling yet I go ahead.

Paddle around the wrong way on a new board is an 8 out of 10 no safety leash situation, sometimes they may even have a leash still packaged on the beach with their bag ?

Regards

Jack

Clever forum won't write **** even though I am typing it classic. The word starts with S and ends in T

On that large lake close my home someone drown while paddling on a SUP rented board. The victim wasn't leashed to the board she probably fell over and cant swim back to the board.
I have to tell again my son to wear the leash ( spring style one i already land to him) when paddling my 14' carrying my little daughter on it even when paddling close to the shore.
Thank's DJ to make remind us that prime safety rule.

Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..

HumanCartoon said..

magillamelb said..
There's a lesson in there about wearing a life jacket/PFD as well. Particularly on Alpine waters.

Wearing.

I just don't get this idea of strapping a PFD to your board and thinking it's going to help you.

Poseidon frowns upon those who foolishly thumb their nose at safety. People don't strap their PFD to the board with any thoughts of ever using it. They do it because it is the minimum legal requirement (in America). Kind of like using an inflatable waist belt PFD without ever having opened it up to see how it works or how to strap it on and blow it up in an emergency. I'm tipping most owners of inflatable PFDs are guilty of that.

Try putting an inflatable PFD on whilst in the water and see how much fun it is and then see how much more fun it is doing the same when the **** is hitting the fan.

My bet is you'll never want to do it again. Ever.

not sure if you guys know, but its law that you must wear a leggie at all times in Tassie, as well as a pfd unless your in the surf zone, the local marine and safety guys are about to run this course for retailers.

What is a Paddle Safe Partner?
A Paddle Safe Partner is a retail outlet, boat dealer, chandlery or anyone that sells paddling equipment, or is involved in the Tasmanian paddling industry, who has committed to meet the criteria below.
Why?
It is important a proactive approach is taken by all participants associated with this increasingly popular pastime to ensure those new to paddling, as well as experienced paddlers, are given the best possible advice and guidance.
This advice and guidance would include topics such as suitability of craft for the needs of the client’s expectations, knowing the required safety equipment for that craft and what equipment is required in certain operational areas as well as having knowledge of MAST legislation in relation to paddle craft.
Almost one in three (30%) of Victorian boating related fatalities over the last five years has been from paddle craft. It is important that strategies are put in place locally to ensure that these statistics are not repeated in Tasmania.
The Paddle Safe Partner project is part of a staged strategy to improve paddle safety in Tasmania.
Legislation covering mandatory safety equipment for paddle craft was amended in January 2014 as the first stage of Paddle Safe and Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) and Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) launched their practical Paddle Safe program as the second stage in December 2014. This program continues in 2016.
What do you need to do?
It’s a simple process. Agree to accept the criteria below to become a recognised Tasmanian Paddle Safe Partner. It’s free and just a little time and commitment to the program is all that is required.
Criteria ?
A staff member, preferably more than one, to participate in a Paddle Safe session prior to 1 November. Date to be advised; ?
Staff members to be given a training session by MAST on life jackets and other legislation involving paddle craft (lightweight craft); ?
Those staff to become a “train the trainer” and commit to train other staff within five working days of completing the program; ?
Display Paddle Safe Partner literature and material including craft classification guide; ?
Display Paddle Safe Partner sticker near entry to premises; ?
Craft on display to be fitted with the Paddle Safe and safety swing tags; ?
Safety material to be displayed in store and, as a minimum, tethers and Australian Standard life jackets suitable for paddle craft to be stocked.
Benefits of being a Paddle Safe Partner ?
MAST and SLST will promote Paddle Safe Partners on Facebook, our websites with links to Paddle Safe partner websites and also the MAST Boatwise publication; ?
Existing TV advertisements will be amended to recommend the public choose Paddle Safe Partner retail outlets when purchasing craft, equipment or just seeking advice; ?
Safety outcomes for paddlers and the state; ?
Trained staff selling products for an activity for which they have had some basic training and knowledge; ?
Ability to on-sell required safety equipment and other gear (eg. protective clothing) to clients.

Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..

...Kind of like using an inflatable waist belt PFD without ever having opened it up to see how it works or how to strap it on and blow it up in an emergency. I'm tipping most owners of inflatable PFDs are guilty of that.

real conversation:

Me: I'd like a couple of CO2 Canisters for a PFD please
Shop Person: Why?
Me: Because I want to test my PFD and make sure I know how to use it.
Shop Person: Oh...really??

Reminds me of an incident on the Gold Coast couple of years ago when clubbies were training in a canal when a young boy disappeared off his board. Apparently he had a seizure and sank to the bottom. The water in canals are murky and he wasn't found for some time by which time he had drowned.
To this day none of the clubbies are attached to their boards so no lesson was learned.
I'd have to say that I wear a leash at all times even on the calmest day wether surfing or just flat water paddling. It's just common sense.

Select to expand quote

HumanCartoon said..

PTWoody said..

...Kind of like using an inflatable waist belt PFD without ever having opened it up to see how it works or how to strap it on and blow it up in an emergency. I'm tipping most owners of inflatable PFDs are guilty of that.

real conversation:

Me: I'd like a couple of CO2 Canisters for a PFD please
Shop Person: Why?
Me: Because I want to test my PFD and make sure I know how to use it.
Shop Person: Oh...really??

That's hilarious. And a little disturbing.

For those that have never activated a CO2 charged PFD, be prepared for a bit of a shock as it constricts around your neck and chest very tightly...for some people I could imagine its quite uncomfortable, and could add to the panic...and I was in an office with my work mates

By this time, we were about 200 feet from the shore of the lake ..... I prompted my son to start yelling for help .... and I did the same .


legrope AND

1,learn how to swim.
2.wear his PFD.
3. dont supervise a child "in" the water. without some swimming lessons yourself.
4, don't take pets or children on SUPs till you're capable of handling the board yourself.
5.if its that cold,,buy a wetsuit for you & your child.
6. don't go into the surf, you can't handle a lake….

people wonder why SUP surfing gets a bad name.

Have you guys seen this PFD?
wingmanlifejacket.com/

I just ordered one for myself. I do a lot of solo paddling on Lake Michigan, and while most of the time i am out there, it's generally very calm and manageable. But when we get downwind conditions, it can change in a matter of minutes.
In Michigan, there are NO laws regarding leashes or PFD's on a SUP. I recently did a job for the local Marine Patrol/Sheriff, and i asked him what the laws are.... he looked at me and said "there are no laws on the books, in the state of Michigan regarding leashes and PFD'S while paddle boarding."
I am guilty of not wearing my pfd everytime i go out, but i do wear my leash. When we downwind, we always have PFD'S, because the Coast Guard always seems to get a call about paddle boards in distress. We have been takkng our downwinding activities further north, away from the busier beaches to hopefully avoid that problem.

excav8ter I actually go and train in horrendous conditions in the lake. So I would be prepared if a big storm hit. Barely able to paddle against the wind.
Unfortunately jacks that no leash new board riding is a bit of a problem around my local break but the locals will actually ask people to paddle in and get one if the wave is getting crowded.
Sup guys up here are really good with leashes.

I started wearing a PFD in the bath after i saw DJ's pics way back when in this thread (or here on the breeze):
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,6944.0.html

And after I watched this (especially from the 4.40 mark) I stopped having baths...


I have a theory that DJ has shares in a legrope company and every now and then he posts something that sees sales go through the roof.

Wow - I had not seen that one! I know Anne and DJ are OK, but why did the vid end? Did Anne catch up to the boards or did someone else come to their rescue. Scary stuff! I'm wearing two legropes from now on!

PS... there's bit more context here (if you scroll down a few posts): www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,27168.0.html

And it's a real credit to DJ that he posted the vid as a cautionary tale for others. It might have been tempting to fly under the radar on that occasion.

Whoa! What a story!

I just read this one too:
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,6944.0.html

DJ, you are lucky to be still among us! Glad you were able to document both stories so well.

Select to expand quote

pumpjockey02 said...
I had a similar problem while in the UK and this is not a reflection on all people from the UK but I was out surfing in Newquay and I got in an argument about leashes. Seems when you live on an island that is within chopper flight and rescue services personal safety seems to be less of a high priority. I was wearing a leash out in 2 foot rolling waves and these brits seem to think it was a joke me wearing a leash. I explained to them that it was for their safety if i fell off and my board might hit them. They took this as that I couldn't control my board. The heckling started. Now I wasn't going to say anything but in Australia you just need to wear one.
After taking up suping its even more important as you can very quickly paddle into places where you really need the paddle.
When surfing you really dont go out when you are not confident you can swim in. The most scared I have been is when 'i was held down for 3 waves at my home break, I was always confident I could swim in.
When supping i often find myself out on the lake where I would struggle to swim in from and find it even more difficult to prone paddle back to shore.
i always wear a leash on my sup and have moved to wearing a flotation device if paddling in deeper water than I can stand up in. I am going to have to practice prone paddling even more in the surf.

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience in the UK. Unfortunately, jerks are found everywhere, including the UK. Newquay is the capital of UK surfing, so aggro is very common and there are a lot of surfers there with something to prove. For that reason, most of us who live in the UK tend to avoid it, unless we live very locally.

Tourists do drown around there quite often (in fact there was a tragedy very recently: www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-37141809 ). When this happens, there is a considerable hullabaloo, partly because it can affect business in a town that relies on holiday trade. So the people there are very sensitive to safety issues - but also are perhaps rather weary of the lack of safety awareness in some visitors to the sea, and how on occasion their behaviours can contribute substantially to the problem (and I am making NO reference to the tragedy above in saying this). So this can engender a certain cynicism in the locals that expresses itself in many ways, with some of them sometimes unacceptable.

So, there is a very complex set of things going on around there in relation to safety equipment, experience, and danger. You may have suffered because of this. Or perhaps they were just w**nkers looking for someone to pick on. I doubt it had much to do with the fact that the UK is an island or the proximity of rescue services. Anyway, I'm sorry that you had this experience, and hope that if you visit the UK again, you have a better one. There are friendlier places to go than Newquay for sure.

I'm always frightened.......just got one of these for my dodgy stand up paddle board fishing expeditions and coastal explorations

only about 250 bucks on the aussie side of the ditch

Area 10 thanks for the reassurance happy to say had a great time in cornwall and around the UK with lots of friendly britons.
Your insights into the Newquay area make me understand the situation much better, actually had an awesome time in ST Ives and I can understand how few waves there are to go around over there with such a large population. I have tolerated similar and worse growing up surfing the northern beaches of Sydney. Some of the pro guys can be real cocks in Australia to surf on the same peaks when crowded too.
I have had the privilage to surf little avalon with Kelly in the day and he was really cool. A few sessions with Barton Lynch always a gentleman. So the pros arent all bad either. It can be just getting people on the wrong day. Would probably still be living and exploring over there as i loved the work and the people. Unfortunately I seem to live the dream over here living on one of Australia's top surf beaches and an amazing sup location 10 plus months of the year.

This thing does the trick as well...

au.findmespot.com/en/

You can allow family & friends to track you. You can send them pre-determined messages to say you're ok or 'meet me here' and it sends them a google map reference to their phone so you don't have to get the authorities involved and self rescue or there is the full nuclear button where you can call emergency services.

It works off satellite, so no need for a mobile phone network.

It's an absolute ripper. Completely waterproof, so no putting your phone at risk when paddling.

I've worked in the past as a SUP instructor and Leg ropes were always compulsory for anyone getting a lesson or renting a board.

One of the biggest risks with SUPs is the fact that they are by far easier to use than most other watercraft, and can create a false sense of security for inexperienced and often incompetent water users.

I've seen people get caught on the river on Sups and find themselves unable to make any headway into a 15knot breeze in order to return to shore.

Even if you are the most gnarly hellman to ever have SUPed, wearing a legrope on flat water will at least give you the option of towing someone else and their board back to shore.

And we all need to learn to swim min 1 km. I have broken 2 or 3 leashes in big surf and had to swim in, and I'm a swimmer I have a firmed says he breaks a leash that's it book the funeral. Dumb. Go to you pool, get in a squad learn to swim distance if you are paddling distance or ocean

Select to expand quote

LateStarter said..
I've worked in the past as a SUP instructor and Leg ropes were always compulsory for anyone getting a lesson or renting a board.

One of the biggest risks with SUPs is the fact that they are by far easier to use than most other watercraft, and can create a false sense of security for inexperienced and often incompetent water users.

I've seen people get caught on the river on Sups and find themselves unable to make any headway into a 15knot breeze in order to return to shore.

Even if you are the most gnarly hellman to ever have SUPed, wearing a legrope on flat water will at least give you the option of towing someone else and their board back to shore.

And if for some reason you pass out or have a medical emergency and fall in at least you are still attached to your board.

Select to expand quote

ShireSUP said..

And we all need to learn to swim min 1 km. I have broken 2 or 3 leashes in big surf and had to swim in, and I'm a swimmer I have a firmed says he breaks a leash that's it book the funeral. Dumb. Go to you pool, get in a squad learn to swim distance if you are paddling distance or ocean

best advice on sea breeze.

Select to expand quote

ShireSUP said..

And we all need to learn to swim min 1 km. I have broken 2 or 3 leashes in big surf and had to swim in, and I'm a swimmer I have a firmed says he breaks a leash that's it book the funeral. Dumb. Go to you pool, get in a squad learn to swim distance if you are paddling distance or ocean

Can even old people learn to swim okay? Do you have to to have a supple chiseled bod to carve powerfully through the water?
Am nearly 65......tend to rely on an impact vest for a bit of extra float.....a "don't panic" attitude if separated from board.....a casual sidestroke swimming action

oh.....and 10 or 12 foot creatures of leisure outer reef leg ropes.........my usual one......and an almost new one i only use on the big days