geokite wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 10:54 pm
Recently I had to swim in for the first time in many, many years. I wasn't wearing a pfd or impact vest, kite was Marabou (not LEI), and the board was a SS 42" DC. So out of the three, only one thing could float me in (the board).
Do you choose your session gear based upon the possibility of having to float in? Either having an LEI kite, or pfd/impact vest, or a board with enough volume to float you?
Is anyone riding a Peak4 with a tray board, no pfd/impact vest?
Yes, I do.
Never use any pfd apart from my waist harness.
Only when I have a wetsuit, I have this extra boyancy.
But I also dont ride further out than I can swim ashore with my tray board, just wearing shorts and my harness - the distance is somewhat further in the summer because of onshore winds and warm water.
Whereas in the winter and especially spring, I have a lot more buyancy from a thick full wetsuit, but still dont ride as far out because of the risk.
Would never wear an impact vest in the summer, when riding in shorts only - the whole experience of summer and freedom goes down the drain now, for me
Some might think this is being irresponsible, but it is ones own choice, just like if you wear a helmet or not.
Yes, it is horrible to swim ashore with a downed foilkite and a tray board, agree - so be careful.
If it is winter or cold water, and more sideshore wind, I sometimes choose a floaty big board instead.
So yes, I choose gear based on the possibility of having to float ashore, yes, and the given conditions.
Peter