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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Fashion statements...
Posted By: Craig Mackinnon In Response To: Re: Asking questions... (Shawn Baker)
Date: Thursday, 16 May 2002, at 2:23 p.m.
Snip
: There are surfing schools of thought that say that PFD's make for more
: difficulty in swimming in the surf. There are good reasons behind these
: thoughts, but these reasons don't at all lend themselves to the general
: paddling population.Or the general surf paddling population. Most kayak surfers without a PFD are also the ones without a helmet; they're going without a PFD because they "don't need one" and are "more comfortable without it"--and certainly not because they can swim under waves or to the bottom without one; they're probably not even aware of this last rationalization. An argument often heard is "stand-up surfers don't wear a PFD or helmet, why should I?" Not wearing a PFD and helmet then becomes a fashion or comfort issue—or simply the by product of faulty reasoning.
An article covering the death of a surf kayaker hammers home the point—a synopsis:
As the kayaker prepared to paddle out into the surf, his friend suggested he wear a PFD. The kayaker replied, “I don't need one." Rip current warnings had been issued for the area. The kayaker had been married on the same beach a week earlier. His friend watched as he paddled out into the surf. At some point, he became separated from his boat. He was briefly seen standing waist to chest deep on a sand bar, just before being hit by a large wave. His body washed ashore a day or two later...
"I don't need one"--famous last words.
Craig


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