Surf vehicle safety standards

The 23rd Annual Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival is about to unroll another stellar event. In keeping with last years good graces everyone should envision smooth and glassy 10 to 15 footers with glistening sun for the weekend.

With our collective karma let's endeavor to pull it off. We have some rule clarification for surf vehicle safety standards. Kayak surfers are required to wear coast guard approved PFDs, helmets and have their boats outfitted with grab loops that will not hurt a rescuer in the event one is needed. Please check our web site for appropriate outfitting and safety. These requirements have been derived by years of world events in cases where rescuers need to save boats and/or their owners. The PFDs are especially helpful in the process of righting an overturned kayak.

We have in this years event a new category of Stand-up surfing. It has been voiced that a PFD is not necessary for this vehicle as righting is not an issue and the ability to duck dive is. So we will delete PFDs for this class of paddle powered vehicle. Helmets are required for all paddle surf vehicles as head trauma from paddle, rocks and your own vehicle is ever-present.

Mar 06, 2009