by Michael Carney, Regional Rep Co-Director, SouthCentral Region

 

Beating the desert heat and sun with a long-sleeve, hooded sunshirt, UV-blocking sun glasses, and sunscreen.

Over the years we’ve had several articles about winter paddling and cold water safety, but nothing about staying safe in the conditions of the busiest time of year - Summer!

Paddling in the heat of summer can create some sticky situations, and I’m not just talking about sweat! Heat-related illness can come on quickly and cause cramping, loss of coordination, and disorientation, and can create seriously dangerous situations on the water. Here is some advice from a desert paddler (who’s had a few brushes with bad heat illness in his time) to stay comfortable all day long.

Sun Protection

Sunburns are the worst, and not just for their immediate discomfort. Melanomas (skin cancer) are one of the most prevalent cancer types in the US, and are also one of the easiest to prevent.  

Physically blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation is the most effective way to stay sun safe, especially when on the water and working up a sweat. Long sleeve clothing, wide brim hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses offer lasting protection all day. UPF-rated clothing have measured their UV-blocking performance, but most solid clothing provides adequate protection — even without the UPF label.  

Sunscreen is key to protecting those exposed areas of skin — particularly on the hands, face, legs, and feet for us paddlers. But sunscreen is time limited! “Waterproof” chemical sunscreens need to be applied to dry skin and given a few minutes to absorb, and you need to reapply them every 90 minutes, and most brands recommend more frequent reapplication when sweating or swimming. This is where I get most of my sunburns - forgetting to reapply!  

Mineral-based sunscreens are highly effective and can last longer than chemical sunscreens. These sunscreens don’t absorb into the skin, but stay visible making them easier to see when they need reapplication. 

 

Regardless of which product you choose, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using at least SPF 50 sunscreen for optimum protection.

 

Hydration

 

A 2-3L hydration bladder makes it easy to stay hydrated for a half-day on the water.

“Hydrate or Die-drate!” was the unofficial motto of the summer camp I worked at in high school and college. It would regularly reach 90+F and 90% humidity - just brutal conditions for being outdoors all day. Staying hydrated is crucial when recreating outdoors. Hydration starts at home, so make sure your Stanley gets topped off and drained several times each day. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking 24-32 ounces of water per hour when you are working or recreating outdoors in the summer. Let’s be real — that’s a ton of water when you are out paddling all day. While it may not be realistic, it is important to keep drinking water while you are paddling. Any time you think about drinking water or notice your mouth is a little dry, take a sip or gulp (or two). I try to plan on drinking about 16-20 ounces every hour on the water. That means I bring about 2L of water with me for a half-day of paddling.

The easier it is to access your water, the more likely you are to drink it. Hydration bladders are one of the best ways to stay hydrated while paddling. With a quick flick of the wrist you can be sipping down some of nature’s Brawndo without breaking your stride. 

Hot take: You probably don’t need electrolyte mixes. Most of us don’t need electrolyte mixes. We get plenty of salt, potassium, and other minerals in our regular food. However, if you are regularly training hard for 3+ hours at a time, they can be helpful in reducing cramping and staying properly hydrated. 

Beat the Heat

 

Paddling early in the morning is cooler and less busy!

 

Conditions vary across the country (and world) so not all heat-beating solutions are going to work the same. But there is one universal way to cool down when you’re on the water - Go for a swim! 

But if you are looking for other ways to stay cool try a few of these…

Wear Long Sleeves. Loose-fitting, lightweight long sleeves help create a microclimate for your skin. Think of it like a bit of shade that moves with you. This works particularly well in drier climates, but can be effective in moderate humidity as well.

Set Your Alarm. Waking up for an early morning paddle not only lets you beat the heat of the day, but also gives you the chance for a more peaceful paddling experience with fewer people, boats, and oftentimes calmer weather. 

Buy Some Lights. Like paddling early in the morning, paddling in the evening as the sun goes down is another way to avoid the heat, and treat yourself to a nice sunset. Just be aware of national and local regulations about lighting on your SUP.

Wet Hats. If you don’t want to go for a full swim, dunk your hat in the water. Cooling down your head and neck while paddling will help you feel cooler all over. 

Take Breaks. Check in with your body, relax, slow down for a bit, drink more water! 

Signs of Heat Illness

All of the tips and strategies above are great ways to prevent heat-related illness, but it’s also important to know the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses for early detection and correction. Heat illness is progressive, and the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to correct. Late stages of heat illness can be deadly!

Dehydration: heavy sweating, dry mouth and/or lips, headache or lightheadedness, cramping

• Treatment: Drink more water, take a break, cool down in the water or by wetting your clothes

Heat Exhaustion: Excessive sweating, dizziness, feeling sick or vomiting, fatigue, change in heart rate, change in skin color and or clammy skin

• Treatment: Seek help from your paddling partner. Immediately cool down safely with splashing water (do NOT jump into the water unassisted - this can cause a cold shock response), Get off the water and into shade and/or air conditioning. Slowly sip water with light electrolyte mix if available.

Heat Stroke - Life Threatening: Dry hot skin, confusion, slurred speech, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting or dry vomiting, fainting, weak pulse

• Treatment: ❗Call 911❗ Immediately get off the water and into shade and/or air conditioning, cool the person externally with lots of water poured on them and ice packs if available. Submerging the victim in water can be done with enough assistance. 

Don’t end up laid out - stay safe this summer!

Thanks for sticking through this longer-than-normal safety article! Remember to stay hydrated and stay cool this summer. Check on those around you, and take a break every now and then. 

How Are Your Rescue Skills?

by Michael Carney - Regional Rep Co-Director, NorthCentral Region

When was the last time you practiced—actually practiced—your rescue and self-rescue skills?

Deep water recoveries are a key part of essential self-rescue skills for stand up paddleboarders, but there are a lot of things that can complicate what we take for granted when it comes to getting back on our boards. Exhaustion, water conditions, board shape, clothing and equipment are just a few variables that can make this critical skill harder when you need it most.

Modern race boards with heavily dug-out decks and tall rails can be harder, and even painful, to get back on compared to flat-deck SUPs. Rough water conditions or flowing water conditions can make narrow race boards unstable and more difficult to remount.

Paddling in the cold this winter? Thick wetsuits, dry suits, and inherently buoyant PFDs can all complicate climbing back on your SUP.

If you finish a race feeling refreshed (or at least not exhausted) then you’ve not raced your hardest, so we leave it all out on the water when it comes to competition and even during some training sessions. What happens when you are in the home stretch of a distance race, running out of energy reserves, and a rogue boat wake or unexpected wave sends you to count the fish? Getting back on your board when you’re gassed at the end of a 10k race is much harder than it sounds.

Practicing your self-rescue skills in various conditions and with different variables is a critical safety skill. Just like in our race training, if we only practice in perfect conditions then we will be unable to effectively compete when the weather turns against us. If you only practice our safety skills in perfect conditions, then when an emergency arises you may find yourself in a far more dangerous situation.

Getting back on your board is only part of the battle. When was the last time you practiced prone paddling your board in case your paddle breaks? Have you tried paddling finless or fixed a fin while on the water? While these circumstances may not happen often, the ability to effectively handle them can be the difference between paddling back yourself, or calling for help.

Are you prepared to help your fellow paddlers? While we hope to not ever see it, a bad fall in a tight fight around a buoy can leave you or your fellow racers incapacitated in the water. Can you effectively help an injured paddler back on their board or onto yours in case of an emergency?

Your rescue skills—your ability to correct a potentially dangerous situation for yourself or others—are one of the four Pillars of SUP Safety. But like any other technique they require regular maintenance. So as the weather and water warm up this spring, make sure to take some time and refresh and challenge your rescue skills. If you aren’t sure how to handle these situations, it’s the perfect time to find a certified instructor in your area to teach you!

If you’d like to learn more about SUP safety, I highly recommend reading SUP Safety—a three-part book series by New Zealand’s National SUP Safety Officer Bill Dawes that deep-dives into all things about paddling safely.

by Michael Carney, Co-Director - USA SUP Regional Rep Program

You can’t have fun if you are worried about your safety. That’s something I instill in my paddling students when talking about Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and other safety equipment for paddling. Life jackets (PFDs, Buoyancy Aids, etc) help provide one piece of that safety system and are legally required equipment when paddling in the United States. But, there are devices marketed as alternatives that don’t provide the same level of safety or meet legal requirements. 

As we progress from beginner to intermediate to advanced paddlers we become more confident on our boards and in the water. We naturally seek out ways to be more connected to the experience and more comfortable on the water. One of the first changes paddlers often make is to stop wearing their PFDs and place them on the board, or swap them for smaller inflatable devices. These inflatables still need to meet the legal and minimum safety requirements, and you should always wear your PFD, no matter your skill level. PFDs are like seat belts - by the time you know you need one, it’s too late to put it on.

What are PFDs?

To obtain certification as a PFD, a flotation device must meet certain minimum requirements for flotation and usage. PFDs are physically inspected for these requirements before receiving certification, and must properly display their certification status and other information on the device itself. In the US, this is the “Type” system for PFDs certified before 2025 ( see Boat US Foundation) and new UL standards for those certified in 2025 forward (see Association of Aquatic Professionals). The USCG does recognize and allow devices with certifications from the EU, UK and Canada to meet US requirements.

What are Restubes?

One device I’ve seen used more frequently by competitive racers is the Restube. I can understand why it’s becoming more popular - this thing is tiny! The main device is only 6” x 3”, under 7 ounces, and sits easily in the small of your back. It has a CO2 canister that inflates when you pull the rip cord, and provides 75N of buoyancy when inflated. It sounds pretty good on paper.

But there’s a problem. Restubes (and similar devices) are not considered a PFD and do not carry any certifications. Restube states on their website FAQ that Restube devices are “not personal protective equipment,” and “should never replace a life jacket.”

Restubes don’t meet the minimum qualifications for certification as PFDs. They don’t meet the flotation requirements for inflatable PFDs under the Type system. They lack a green-color visual status indicator showing the device is properly armed. Restubes are not able to be worn, rather they are held, when inflated.

Why does this matter?
Over 80% of boating fatalities in the US each year list “No/Not Wearing PFD” as the primary cause of death. Most of those happen on days with calm weather conditions. (USCG Statistics) In the US, SUPs are considered “vessels” and required to carry a certified PFD for each passenger. PFDs are required to be worn by anyone under the age of 13. All inflatable PFDs must be worn to qualify for paddlers of any age. In some places, like my home state of New Mexico, PFDs must be worn by ALL paddlers, not just children, rather than simply placed on the vessel.

There can be consequences for using a Restube instead of a PFD. If you are paddling with a Restube instead of  a certified PFD and get stopped for inspection, you can be ticketed and forced off the water.

Race organizers should be requiring participants to follow the local law regarding PFDs. In the US that means certification and proper wear for your device. Allowing paddlers to use Restubes or similar devices instead of a certified PFD will put Race Directors at risk of liability and losing operation permits.

And the big one - your safety and concern for those around you. Purposely choosing to use improper or no safety equipment risks the sport of SUP Racing, your health and life, first responders, and the well being of your friends and family should an accident occur.

Alternatives

There are many alternative devices you can wear that are certified safety equipment. The Onyx M16 belt pack is only half an ounce heavier than a Restube, and keeps a thin profile around the waist. There are many other brands and models of inflatable PFDs that are comfortable to wear and still meet appropriate safety regulations. Check out brands like BOTE, West Marine, NRS, Overton’s, Ascend, Paddle North,  and Mustang Minimalist, to name a few.

While the idea of an ultra-small flotation device is appealing, it's important to remember that there are requirements for safety equipment and there can be severe consequences for not using it. So, before using these non-certified, non-safety equipment devices while paddling, ask yourself, "Is the slightly smaller size work the potential costs?"

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- Should ResTubes be allowed in SUP races to meet safety requirements?

- What other safety considerations should be taken by race directors and racers?

- Have you ever been at a race that had a safety concern manifest?

by Grant Cooper

(founding Board Member)

Photo by Author - Utah Lake Storm 06/02/2023

Living in the high desert area of Utah, Spring, albeit a late spring this year, and the transition into Summer is a time of afternoon thunderstorms and unpredictable winds.

This of course brings additional challenges to planning and enjoying time on the water paddleboarding.

A worst case scenario in windy conditions is becoming separated from your paddleboard. The paddleboard is your biggest flotation device in adverse conditions. 

Leashes, and your understanding and use of them, can prevent separation from your paddleboard and potentially tragic outcomes from your paddle sessions.

In addition to taking the time to evaluate weather conditions, checking forecasts, checking flags that may be out on your journey to the water, observing the water and clouds, and then assessing your ability to paddle in those conditions, your leash should be the first piece of equipment you reach for once you have decided to paddle out.

But are all leashes created equal ? I would like to share here, an article  from our friends at NZ SUP, more specifically Bill Dawes, the NZ SUP Safety Officer. 

https://www.sup.org.nz/safety/leashes/

Unfortunately it is becoming an all too common occurrence for paddlers to be caught out in conditions which can change in an instance.

So if you are paddling and see someone with a leash dragging in the water behind the board, politely recommend they attach it to themselves and explain why.

And if you are a paddler that does not wear one, I shall leave you with this thought a race director shared with his competitors a number of years ago.

"As a race director I cannot force you to wear a leash, there is no law that says you must, but I would ask that you remember, each time you go out on your board you are an ambassador for your sport. You get to choose how you represent that sport"