SUP Rescue

arkirschbaum · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Thank you so very much to the lady kiter and fellow supper who assisted me yesterday in retrieving my sup board. Very much appreciate your expertise and helpfulness in a tricky situation. Regards, Andrew

laci · Joined: 22 May 1996 Posts: 180 Location: SoCal&the Gorge

Sounds like your paddle is at Big Winds.

H2OJoe · Joined: 20 Aug 2002 Posts: 112

paddle may be at port, or host of event site

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

EVERYONE does use a leash with their SUP... right?

wynsurfer · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 940

No, But i might be inclined to use one in those conditions.

scargo · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 394

I can't believe anyone would ever SUP without a leash. I did that once because I'd forgotten mine, and it was nearly catastrophic. I was paddling on the ocean, fell off, and the side-off wind quickly took the board for a ride. I swam and swam, but couldn't catch it and eventually had to give up and swim in. Luckily for me, the board found its way to a group of surfers, one of whom caught it and brought it in. Otherwise it would have come ashore 200 miles away in Montauk.

Anyway, I was colossally stupid. But it was one of those things where I'd weighed the risk in my mind (wind fairly light, etc.) and thought I'd be ok--without realizing just how fast the board would get away from me. I ALWAYS use a leash now. The coil kind create no drag in the water, so really there's no excuse not to.

arkirschbaum · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

I did have a leash. Always do when I downwind. I hope everyone always does when down winding. Plus I have started to always use a leash since you never know when the wind will pick up even on those flat days. Also had a PDF inflatable. My knot came undone which was surprising since I had checked it but it did ....so it was my error.

In those winds my SAIC Rocket (very light) actually would blow off the water and feather about 10-20 feet. A number of other kiters tried to assist with the retrieval of the board but it was very dangerous and it took a fellow SUPPER to slowly approach the board from upwind and grab the board.

Thanks again to all.

laci · Joined: 22 May 1996 Posts: 180 Location: SoCal&the Gorge

Did you ever get your paddle back?

arkirschbaum · Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Yes I did. Were you the one who returned it? If so, I would like to give you a reward or something.

laci · Joined: 22 May 1996 Posts: 180 Location: SoCal&the Gorge

No I didn't return it, I just re-posted the notification of the guy who did find it from iWindsurf to the SUP Zone forum. Glad you got it back.