Comments on: Alarming Trend Shows Increase In Paddleboarding Deaths In Latest Coast Guard Report

By: sandman

sandman — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 02:26:32 +0000

another tragedy: SUP, no lifejacket

https://cabinradio.ca/254440/news/yellowknife/man-drowns-after-fall-from-paddleboard-on-yellowknifes-long-lake/

By: Tony S

Tony S — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:31:17 +0000

That was a potentially important article that left more unsaid than said. For that reason it was a disappointment. Why so cursory?

By: Montana

Montana — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:25:59 +0000

In reply to Dick Barrett. Good point about the usage. But when a sport like paddleboard grows, it's likely that then newcomers may be inexperienced (for instance, no experience in other water sports), and that should be alarming. Also, a sport SHOULD become safer (on lakes in good weather, where most people go) when it becomes more popular because of the collective experience. The rate of fatalities for normal and beginning paddleboarders should decrease.

By: Sandman

Sandman — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:08:55 +0000

Rarely see life jackets on SUP riders!
And also, many many paddlers in the 10-12 foot “play” kayaks, do not wear life jackets.
I’m guessing falling and hitting your head on the side of blowup SUP could knock you out!
Same old common sense tragic stories!

By: Peter Gordon

Peter Gordon — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:08:10 +0000

In the previous comment, it was suggested that not being tethered to the paddleboard was a safety risk. In fact, I know of 2 fataities where the board got stuck on a stump or sucked down in shallow, but moving water, In both cases, the paddle boarder was unable to release the tether and they got dragged under and unable to keep their heads above water.

By: Dick Barrett

Dick Barrett — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:32:29 +0000

What does the increase in SUP fatalities tell us? That SUPs have become more dangerous? That an increasing number of SUP users lack necessary skills? Without knowing how much SUP use has grown, it’s impossible to know what the fatality figures mean. I’m not a SUP user, but it seems to me that SUP use has grown enormously, and it’s to be expected that fatalities would do the same. What we need to know is what has happened to fatalities per participant hours, and the numbers published here are useless for that purpose.

By: C. Yaworski

C. Yaworski — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 23:15:57 +0000

It would be interesting to know the percentage of SUP fatalities who were a) not wearing a PFD and b) not tethered to their board.
If there were youth fatalities and I hope not, were they supervised while on the water.
Common sense safety is often lacking,