Federal Government Quietly Mandating Costly Stand-Up Paddle Regulations; Regulating Paddle Boards As Vessel, Require Life Jackets, National SUP Community Says No!
Huntington Beach, Surf City USA/Los Angeles CA. (PRUnderground) September 3rd, 2021
Free SUP So Cal (501(c)(4) – non-profit) has taken on the challenge of “standing up” for the rights of the Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Community who enjoy the freedoms of paddling in our oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you are a SUP surfer, SUP racer, SUP Olympic hopeful, SUP yogi, or a lake, river, or stream SUP enthusiast, Free SUP So Cal has taken the lead in driving awareness and education, so you have a voice and a choice in what SUP equipment is “mandated” by the Federal Government.
Our mission is to promote and preserve the lifestyle unique to stand-up paddlers. We promote the interests of stand-up paddlers and future generations of stand-up paddlers by lending a collective voice to SUP causes and concerns. Staying true to our members’ core values, Free SUP So Cal strives to uphold and maintain the highest standards of ethics in accomplishing these goals.
PADDLE BOARDS AS “VESSELS” – Proposed Regulations
Federal and state actors have recognized stand-up paddle boards as “vessels.” By recognizing to flawed conclusion that a stand-up paddleboard is a “vessel”, states impose many requirements upon the SUP paddler including buying and wearing a Coast Guard-certified life jacket, carrying a whistle or noise device with you while on the board, and carrying a flashlight while out in the dark. These requirements are arbitrary, are likely to create a dangerous situation, and should be left up to the individual’s discretion depending on the individual’s circumstance. The repercussions of such a classification would be to limit the freedom and mobility of the SUP community, and to disregard the unique safety concerns SUP paddlers face. Paddle boards are inherently buoyant and are not prone to the hazard of sinking or floating away as canoes and kayaks are. A SUP safety leash is a fixed line from the floating paddle board to the person paddling the paddle board, and the board itself is the most buoyant safety device available. There is no data to support the idea that SUP is as dangerous as other watersports such as kayaking and canoeing. In fact, the very minimal statistics presently available demonstrate SUP continues to be the safest water-based activity, even though the number of people enjoying SUP has increased from year to year. We should not stand idle and allow the government to regulate a watersport that has been shown to be inherently safe.
MANDATING LIFE JACKETS – Proposed Regulations
Special interest groups are pressuring the Coast Guard to regulate stand up paddle boards in a one-size-fits-all manner that would require the use of life jackets in all circumstances. Because paddle boarding is a popular sport, a common misconception among law makers is that SUP is like kayaking and canoeing. Yet SUP shares more similarities with surfing—both paddle boards and surfboards are inherently buoyant and are not prone to the hazard of sinking or floating away due to the safety leash which can be attached to every SUP paddler. This is not the same as canoes and kayaks. Paddle boarding is one of the safest, if not the safest, water-based recreational activities.
Currently, Free SUP So Cal is working to stop the special interest movement that is lobbying the local, State and Federal agencies to impose unnecessary and unsafe, and costly life jacket regulations on stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). There is no data to support the idea that SUP is as dangerous as other watersports such as kayaking and canoeing. In fact, the very minimal statistics presently available demonstrate SUP continues to be the safest water-based activity, even though the number of people enjoying SUP has increased from year to year. We should not stand idle and allow the government to regulate a watersport that has been shown to be inherently safe. Concerning SUP, one Senior Coast Guard Regulatory Officer has explained: “We don’t have data that validates the utilization of the [life jackets].” Available data suggests life jackets can increase SUP dangers. Indeed, the very reason surfers are not required to wear a life jacket is due to the significant threats to safety a life jacket presents.
DISCUSSION OF MANDATING LICENSING OF STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDS – PROPOSED
To date there is discussion of the potential of licensing stand-up paddle boards. What is next, licensing of surf boards? This poses a serious concern to the national SUP community: “Is this a money grab by canoe and kayak manufacturers who want to stifle the growth of SUP to improve their own bottom lines?”
CALL TO ACTION – WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Sign the Petition: https://freesup.org/sign-the-petition
Become part of the Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Community: FREE SUP stand-up and say no to federal, state, and local regulators and agencies who are trying to impose unnecessary and unsafe regulations on SUP, such as requiring SUP paddlers to wear life jackets in all circumstances on our oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. Go to www.freesup.org #freesupforall @freesupusa
Contact: info@freesup.org
Website: www.freesup.org
About FREESUP SO CAL
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT QUIETLY MANDATING COSTLY STAND-UP PADDLE (SUP) REGULATIONS, NATIONAL SUP COMMUNITY SAYS NO.