PFD's while wakesurfing

[Surfdad]

There is a HUGE emotionally charged discussion going on regarding the wearing of PFD's while wakesurfing. Virtually everyone agrees they wear a PFD while wakeboarding, but many do NOT while wakesurfing. Part of the conflict surrounds a Tige Ad showing Eric Ruck wakesurfing without a PFD. What is the practice around the country? It's illegal in CA to tow anyone without a PFD, so it's moot here. Should Tige promote wakesurfing without a PFD? Is there less risk of drowning when wakesurfing than wakeboarding? Your thoughts?

[b/w05]

I would think there is always the (slight) possibilty that one might fall and get hit with the surfboard... knocking them out and then need the PFD to sustain them until the boat/help came back around. It's a longshot but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I haven't seen the Tige' ad, but yes, they should have a PFD on as a general rule of thumb. My 2 pennies.

[Tequilasun]

PFD's All the time here on Tablerock.

There is just too much risk without them, and so little issue with wearing them.

[bneub]

You have to wear them any time you are being pulled behind a boat in Colorado and Nebraska also.

I wouldn't personally pull someone without a PFD behind my boat!

[Gschmidt1]

I wouldnt either. People just need to understand that guys like ruck are pro, not some guy just getting into boarding for the first time. Its really a common sense thing.

[lee]

No vest, no pull.

[akdoc]

We wear them all the time, I like Lee's comment, no vest no pull.

[Tequilasun]

Originally posted by lee
No vest, no pull.

We should get some stickers made of that!

Hand them out to all new Tige owners!

[CP3]

Any type of watersports we always wear a vest.

[G-MONEY]

Originally posted by lee
No vest, no pull.

But if you think about it when you’re surfing you're not being pulled...

[Boarder_X]

My opinion... The new vests are very comfortable with the neoprene. Why risk something? I forgot to put one on once. .. My boat. I fell, and then remembered. As the boat was coming around, I had them throw me one.

Like someone said, just common sense.

[NICKYPOO]

Originally posted by lee
No vest, no pull.

Perfect!

We went camping last year and got out to the lake late Friday afternoon. Just enough time to get in a few surf rides. We got the boat in the water, got everybody aboard, got the the ballast filled. I went for my vest a realized I had taken them all out after a major detailing session and forgotten to put them back in. The only life vests in the boat were the orange hoarse collars you keep aboard to stay legal. I'll tell you one thing, those things suck. They are so uncomfortable it's not even funny. The little black strap that goes around your back is sharp as a knife and as smooth as 10 grit sand paper. The orange part itself will choke you to death if you don't get out of the water and up on the board in a hurry. Makes for some good pictures though.

Point is, no vest, no pull (or push for that matter).

PS - Hauled a$$ back to town at dawn to get the real vests.