World Paddle Association - WPA » Safety

Water Safety-SUP Education certification course December 17, 2011

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:04:20 +0000

The World Paddle Association (WPA) announces the next date to attend a Water Safety/SUP Education certification course for instructors in California on Saturday, December 17, 2011, 9am at the Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, CA. All instructors who are interested in attending must have submitted a application with instructors background credentials and send a deposit through Pay Pal at least 5 days prior to the class date. Once we receive your confirmation with attendance each instructor with receive a invoice through Pay Pal to pay the class deposit. All instructors attending a WPA course for the first time will be certified at a Class I level (unless otherwise communicated) and then will need to meet the requirements to become a Class II instructor.

Any instructor who has not completed the online application can do so by going to http://worldpaddleassociation.com/apply-now/.

All other instructors that have completed an application will be contacted and should send a confirmation of attendance to info@worldpaddleassociation.com. All instructors interested in attending must adhere to the guidelines set forward by the WPA with information posted on www.worldpaddleassociation.com.

The WPA provides world-class water safety and SUP instruction designed to educate and prepare instructors to teach paddlers at every level how to have a fun and safe experience on the water. Our expert staff will certify instructors to teach a consistent and proven curriculum of fundamental technique, water dynamics and water safety appropriate for all water environments.

The World Paddle Association looks forward to serving the needs for stand up paddling instructors to grow the sport for a safe and fun future for all. Please check back for additional dates and locations.

SUP Surf Etiquette

admin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:38:26 +0000

Know your ability and the surf break you are going to surf. Beginning SUP surfers can be a bigger danger to those in the water and to yourself if you do not know the dynamics of a SUP board and the power of the wave.
Know the restrictions where you can or cannot SUP surf as SUP surfing may not be suitable at a given break and or area. If you don’t know ask a lifeguard or someone that has knowledge of the particular break.
Be conscious of others in the water both paddling out and where you are in the surf line up. A SUP board will get away from you much further than a surfboard and also drag you further going through a wave and when you fall. Give yourself twice the distance you would on a surfboard from others on both sides and behind you when paddling out and especially when you fall, be sure to plan ahead and give ample room to those paddling out.
Be respectful out in the line up particularly when you are not at your home break. If you are not a local or even are a local don’t paddle around everyone to the priority position and or outside. Work your way into the line up by catching some in between waves and gain respect of others that are out in the water.
Once you are at the main peak or line up be willing to give up some waves to others and even call out set waves that may be coming. This will go far for you to catch waves and gain respect from surfers. An experienced SUP surfer can catch twice as many waves as a traditional surfer and everyone is trying to catch their fair share, so be fair and share as much as possible.
Take a break and sit on your board when you can. This will show other surfers that you are willing to pass up waves and give some waves to others.
Go out of your way to be kind and help others. In most cases you will be judged by others even before you get in the water.
Help those who don’t know. If you see a beginning SUP surfer that does not know surf etiquette, inform them in a kind way about the rules and or restrictions. In the end it will benefit all of us in the water.
WEAR a LEASH! Don’t try to be cool and think that you don’t have to wear a leash. All it takes is one fall to wipeout someone else’s day or life.If you follow these simple guidelines when you are in the water with surfers you will gain a lot of respect from others and for the sport of SUP surfing. “We set the standard today for what will happen in the future of SUP surfing”. “Keep the Vibe”

PFD Laws – SUP or Paddleboards Now Classified as Vessels

admin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 04:33:40 +0000

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has officially classified stand up paddleboards (SUP) as a vessel. With the rapid growth of SUP in recent years on the West and East coast of the United States, the Coast Guard recently classified “paddleboards”, meaning SUP’s as “vessels.” SUP, the newly classified vessels must comply with federal Navigation Rules and “carriage” requirements when operated beyond the limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area. Adult stand-up paddlers are required to have a USCG-approved life jacket also known as Personal Floatation Device (PFD, Type III) for each person, a sound signaling device (whistle), visual distress signal and navigation light (flashlight).

With this said there are many details with the new PFD law that most cities and harbors are now enforcing. All persons 12 years old and under are required to wear a USCG-approved life jacket or PFD however all operators over 12 years of age are only required to have a Type III adult USCG-approved life jacket or PFD either attached to the vessel or on the operators person. As stated in the first paragraph, SUP operators are not required to wear or have a PFD if you are in the surf line. So, SUP surfers are not required to wear a PFD. The WPA will be inquiring for an exception with the new PFD law with the USCG. The letter will state “if the stand up paddleboard operator is tethered (wearing a leash) to their board or vessel, can this be deemed as an alternate or replacement for having a PFD.” Most would feel that a stock (12’6”) or larger SUP board would be a better floatation device as long as the operator were attached to the vessel. How much easier would it be to administer CPR or first aid to a victim or person in need on a SUP board rather than in the water?

The same requirements apply to kayaks and other manually propelled vessels of similar size. Stand-up paddleboards are exempt from hull identification number and registration requirements. Please know that motor and large sail vessels have the right of way over paddleboards, kayaks and SUP crafts. It is your responsibility to know the rules of the water, so be safe considerate of other large vessels. The Harbor Patrol will continue to educate and enforce the new law with all stand-up paddlers.