Barefoot suit - w/vest or w/o?
John Jackson
Hello!
Can anyone give me an idea of which way I should go as far as a
barefoot suit? I have the idea that a barefoot suit that's USCG approved
as a flotation device and worn without a ski vest is better than wearing
a barefoot suit that isn't approved for flotation and thus requires a ski
vest in addition. Is this correct? I would think that a vest is more
likely to catch water and drag you down when making a deep water start on
a barefoot run. Anybody have any advice on this? Thanks!
Kevin R. Clark
In article i...@nic.umass.edu, jo...@asimov.oit.umass.edu (John Jackson) writes:
>
> <snip> I would think that a vest is more
>a barefoot run. Anybody have any advice on this? Thanks!
You're right...deep-water starts w/ a lifevest are next to impossible...believe
me I've tried it many times before giving up on it... Get a barefoot suit w/
approved floatation, or take your chances w/ the Lake Patrol when they try to
ticket you for skiing w/o a life vest...
Kevin Clark
Dallas, Texas
Paul Oman
Definitely don't put a vest over your barefoot suit if you're
going to be doing any deep water starts. States (like Minnesota)
that appreciate that USCG approved flotation is incompatible
with some water sports, only mandate that approved flotation be
available in the boat. I'd suggest checking with your local
authorities before spending the extra money for an approved
barefoot suit - which might be lower quality than some that
aren't approved.
Paul Oman, (po...@vnet.ibm.com)
IBM Rochester, Minnesota
(507)253-4232
tofer
John,
Check your state law. Most states (like VT) have become
enlightened enough to pass laws allowing barefooting w/o a uscg
vest as long as you are wearing a regular barefoot wetsuit.
In article <4uob2t$i...@nic.umass.edu>, jo...@asimov.oit.umass.edu
says...
>
>Hello!
>
> Can anyone give me an idea of which way I should go as far
as
>a
>barefoot suit? I have the idea that a barefoot suit that's USCG
ap
>proved
>as a flotation device and worn without a ski vest is better than
we
>aring
>a barefoot suit that isn't approved for flotation and thus
requires
> a ski
>vest in addition. Is this correct? I would think that a vest is
m
>ore
>likely to catch water and drag you down when making a deep water
st
>art on
>a barefoot run. Anybody have any advice on this? Thanks!
>
>-John
>jo...@external.umass.edu
ma...@woody.pauls.net
cla...@aud.alcatel.com (Kevin R. Clark) wrote:
> or take your chances w/ the Lake Patrol when they try to
>ticket you for skiing w/o a life vest...
>Kevin Clark
>Dallas, Texas
So what is the rule on this?? Does the law mandate a life-presever on
the skiier??
We were out last weekend and there was a NEW lake patrol guy on the
lake, it was late on a friday night on a ski lake (only ski boats left
out). When this guy stopped us while our skurfer was in the middle of
his run. He was wearing just a brush guard shirt. The patrol guy
said that he wasn't required to wear a life vest but that it had to be
easily accessible to him, and in his 'opinion' that 60ft behind the
boat wasn't accessible.
Needless to say, we just put a life vest on and went about our way..
After some of the wrecks, I've had or seen, I always wear a vest this
is just a question of principal and the choice of the skier.
Tim Clawson
ma...@woody.pauls.net wrote:
>cla...@aud.alcatel.com (Kevin R. Clark) wrote:
>> or take your chances w/ the Lake Patrol when they try to
>>ticket you for skiing w/o a life vest...
>>Kevin Clark
>>Dallas, Texas
>So what is the rule on this?? Does the law mandate a life-presever on
>the skiier??
I believe the law varies from state to state, or country. Check
with your boating regulations booklet to see exactly what laws
apply to you.
In Connecticut, the law requires a USCG approved vest to be
worn for all skiing activities, with the exception of:
1. Barefooting, if you're wearing a barefoot suit with floatation,
2. Trick Skiing: the trick skier must meet a bunch of requirements
that deal with boat speed, ski dimensions, etc, in order to ski
without a USCG-approved vest.
I also ski a lot in Maine, where non-USCG approved neopreme
vests are considered acceptable.
Again, check with your local boating regulations booklet.
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <4uve5t$7...@ferengi.prismnet.com>, ma...@woody.pauls.net writes:
> cla...@aud.alcatel.com (Kevin R. Clark) wrote:
>
>> or take your chances w/ the Lake Patrol when they try to
>>ticket you for skiing w/o a life vest...
>
>>Kevin Clark
>>Dallas, Texas
>
> So what is the rule on this?? Does the law mandate a life-presever on
> the skiier??
>
> lake, it was late on a friday night on a ski lake (only ski boats left
> out). When this guy stopped us while our skurfer was in the middle of
> his run. He was wearing just a brush guard shirt. The patrol guy
> said that he wasn't required to wear a life vest but that it had to be
> easily accessible to him, and in his 'opinion' that 60ft behind the
> boat wasn't accessible.
>
> Needless to say, we just put a life vest on and went about our way..
>
> After some of the wrecks, I've had or seen, I always wear a vest this
> is just a question of principal and the choice of the skier.
>
WE have one or two trick skiiers on our lake that regularily ski without
a vest... not always in the confines of the course cove either. I don't
know if they have had any hassles, but I can check with our patrol guy
this weekend.
Dudley Cornman
Systems Programmer
Academic Computing Services - EKU
ACSS...@ACS.EKU.EDU
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*** When it comes to boats... ***
*** I'd rather have a new boat than a used boat... ***
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********************************************************************
BORDEN1000
>So what is the rule on this?? Does the law mandate a life-presever on
>the skiier??
True story told to me by Mark Russell:
They were kneeboarding down in the Miami area when one of the guys (NOT
wearing a vest) fell. They circled the boat but could not find him, but
were able to find him two days later. Medical examiner discovered he hit
his head on the front of the kneeboard and most likely was knocked
unconscious, inhaled enough water to sink for two days. My friend Mark
wears his life jacket.
These guys in Wakeboard Mag / videos out ripping it up without a jacket
are in the same position as Marks friend... having a great time, just
waiting for an opportunity to get popped on the noggin and spend a couple
of days on the bottom.
bl
ps...sorry to be so grim, but according to Mark, the possibilities were
grim for his friend.
Marty Campbell
Barefooting with a life vest is almost impossible (deep water) and is
very dangerous. Most water patrol personnel know this and will not
give you any problems about the lack of approved PFD. There are only
a couple of manufacturers that make an approved barefoot suit and they
are hard to find. If you are having problems with the water patrol,
try squeezing the life vest under the barefoot suit, or stay away from
deep waters.
Good Luck!!
Marty Campbell
Little Crow WaterSki Show Team
Mark Bortz
Marty Campbell <strn...@cloudnet.com> writes:
Actually deepwaters with a life vest are quite easy. I've done
deepwater starts, including flying docks, with a vest and jump
shorts for a long time.
You are only dragging with the vest in the water for a short
time before you sit up and plant. Just remember to tighten the
vest straps tightly, especially the bottom one. I also don't know
why this would be considered a dangerous way to start. You actually
get better floatation and padding from the life vest than from the
barefoot suit. You just don't have as much padding in the butt from the
jump shorts as you do in a barefoot suit.
I wouldn't recommend trying tumble turns with a life vest, they don't
slide quite that good :)
--
Mark Bortz
Five Seasons Ski Team
mab...@cca.rockwell.com
Kevin R. Clark
In article f...@rommel.cca.rockwell.com, Mark Bortz <mab...@rommel.cca.rockwell.com> writes:
>
>Actually deepwaters with a life vest are quite easy. I've done
>deepwater starts, including flying docks, with a vest and jump
>shorts for a long time.
The big question, though, did you *learn* deepwater starts w/ a lifevest
or w/ a barefoot suit. I can get up on slalom ski behind a 40 HP outboard
now, but I wouldn't expect many people would want to learn to slalom behind
a 40 HP...
>You are only dragging with the vest in the water for a short
>time before you sit up and plant.
Seemed like an eternity the times I tried... Also, I would suspect the
cut of the vest would make a big difference. I remember a 3" flap of vest
going straight down and I pulled like I was attatched to an anchor...
Kevin Clark
Dallas, Texas
acss...@acs.eku.edu
In article <1996Aug16....@acs.eku.edu>, acss...@acs.eku.edu writes:
> WE have one or two trick skiiers on our lake that regularily ski without
> a vest... not always in the confines of the course cove either. I don't
> know if they have had any hassles, but I can check with our patrol guy
> this weekend.
I checked with the water patrolman this weekend. He said if he catches
him in or out of the course he will write him up. He did say it was
"supposed" to be ok to ski without a vest in the course, but I guess he
doesn't buy into that and has the option not too.
He said he wouldn't let non-coast guard approved vests slide either...
although I don't think he will look very hard to find one. He also said
he has been writing a ton of tickets for ski belts and he can't beleive
how many people still think they are ok.
Mark Bortz
cla...@aud.alcatel.com (Kevin R. Clark) writes:
>
> >
> >Actually deepwaters with a life vest are quite easy. I've done
> >deepwater starts, including flying docks, with a vest and jump
> >shorts for a long time.
>
> The big question, though, did you *learn* deepwater starts w/ a lifevest
> or w/ a barefoot suit. I can get up on slalom ski behind a 40 HP outboard
> now, but I wouldn't expect many people would want to learn to slalom behind
> a 40 HP...
>
Very True! The easiest way to learn is with a barefoot suit and a boom.
I wouldn't recomend learning to deep water with a life vest but I'm sure
it could be done.
>
> >You are only dragging with the vest in the water for a short
> >time before you sit up and plant.
>
> Seemed like an eternity the times I tried... Also, I would suspect the
> cut of the vest would make a big difference.
Yes the cut of the jacket would make a difference. If your jacket fits
too loosely it will drag excessively. This is more of a problem when
learning to deepwater than after you know how.
> I remember a 3" flap of vest
> going straight down and I pulled like I was attatched to an anchor...
If you experience excessive drag at the beginning of the deepwater you
have to exagerate the arch in your back, really throw your head back.
This will help you to plain and not sink. Of couse if you have too much
dragging in the water your going to have problems.
I would recommend that anyone learning to do barefoot deepwater starts
use a barefoot suit. All I was trying to point out in my original post
was that doing it in a life jacket and jump shorts were not that impossible
or dangerous.
--
Mark Bortz
mab...@cca.rockwell.com
Michael Crider
>
>He said he wouldn't let non-coast guard approved vests slide either...
>although I don't think he will look very hard to find one. He also said
>he has been writing a ton of tickets for ski belts and he can't beleive
>how many people still think they are ok.
Just in case y'all are interested, Overton's has an EP barefoot suit
that is USCG approved. I know quite a few people who are using these
instead of vests and wetsuits. They say these suits are great for a
few reasons.
1) More comfortable than the wetsuit/vest combination.
2) Falls don't hurt quite as much.
3) One guy told me he actually recovered from a fall. He said he
landed on his back with his ski completely out of the water and
managed to get back on his ski somehow. I not sure I quite
believe him, but I guess it could be possible.
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Who the the hell is General Failure,
and why is he reading my hard drive?!?