Commentary on Mandatory PFD Use In Canada By Kiteboarders

[ricki]

Thanks for putting this up Chris. There is a petition there that it would be good if folks could sign.

Regarding some of the points on the petition:

1. make body dragging to your board difficult
2. can interfere with the use of quick release safety
3. can result in more line entanglement
reduce mobility, so can limit a kiteboarders ability to depower kite and board

This is true of some pfds, likely many if not most Transport Canada approved PFDs. It isn't true of all pfds however, fortunately for us. Lots of kiters wear pfds routinely and don't suffer any of the above problems. Still, I believe TC needs to be better informed as to what our sport entails, what works and what doesn't before requiring equipment of kiters, if ever. In the interim, informed free choice should govern. I recommend wearing a pfd for kiting sessions, I don't feel it should become a Federal requirement though.