Re: [Paddlewise] What's in the PFD?

Thanks for the link, Rob. Some exhilarating stuff on there; so were some of 
the other links indicating more poignant moments, too.

I'm sure there are whole camps of paddlers where the status quo of the 
particular participant's pursuit doesn't include the wearing of a PFD, 
especially during competitive events.

As far as surf kayaking in actual big-surf zones, the above still holds true 
as we've seen, sometimes geographically co-dependant. I do remember a story 
from Matt about a Washington coast kayak surfer who misjudged the magnitude 
of a huge Pacific swell and resulting roller (and/or got caught unawares, 
can't remember). He was dragged out of his kayak, driven to the bottom of 
the wave, way down deep. His wet suit booties were both ripped off during 
his descent. His re-floatation to the surface was agonizingly long if I 
remember from the vivid description, perhaps delayed by the next breaker 
too. Can't remember if he had a PFD on, lost it too, or what. Though board 
surfers deal with this reality often (being driven under), as an infrequent 
big-surf paddler myself (and therefore unaccustomed to holding my breath 
while being beaten silly by the surf for indefinite periods of time),  I'd 
sure want some buoyancy assistance to get to the surface faster, especially 
if the next few waves took me down under again before getting another 
breath, before finally resurfacing

BTW, so when does discussing safety issues on Paddlewise (like the current 
PFD topic) become silly? Long-winded, repetitious, opinionated, heated, 
unnecessarily argumentative, ill-informed, overly zealous, conjecturable, 
self-righteous, and out of context -- perhaps. Okay, does kinda sound a bit 
silly. :-)

Well, whatever it takes to float folk's Cheerios,

Doug (live long and may your paddling prosper)



The other Mark had said and you replied:

> Okay,  I've been watching this thread from the sidelines for weeks but now
> it's getting silly.
>
>
>
>> Here are some fantastic shots of the kind of behavior that is flauntingly
>> outragious. It should be banned. They look like they are having fun, too. 
>> Where
>> are the purists in the sea kayak world when we need them to guilt them 
>> away
>> from  their foolish, arrogant pride.
>>
>> _http://www.surfski.info/content/view/157/67/index.php?option=com_content&task
>> =view&id=364&Itemid=30_
>> (http://www.surfski.info/content/view/157/67/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=364&Itemid=30)
>>
> Cheers,
>>
>> Rob G
>> Runnin' for cover!
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