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Make PFD use optional for Canadian kiteboarders

Make PFD use optional for Canadian kiteboarders

690 signatures 60 to reach 750
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Started by Anonymous 17 years, 4 months ago
The Ministry of Transport is looking to make it mandatory for kiteboarders to wear PFDs in Canada. We propose that PFDs should be a choice by the kiteboarder and not mandated. It is the opinion of many kiteboarders that PFDs increase the risk to kiteboarders because they: 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 Furthermore they are not deemed necessary because both the board and kite offer more than enough flotation (and certainly more than a pillow style PFD that is certified on many vessles) to allow for kiteboarders to self rescue The current proposal by the Ministry of Transport: Sailboards and Kiteboards 219. A sailboard or kiteboard is not required to carry on board life-saving appliances, vessel safety equipment or firefighting equipment if (a) the operator is wearing a personal flotation device of an appropriate size that is not fitted with an automatic inflator; or (b) the operator is engaged in an official competition at which a safety craft is in attendance and carrying on board a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size for the operator that can be donned in the water.

Updates

May 22, 2009

We hit five hundred signatures today. This has been a long grind and it is exhausting to keep pushing when the bureaucracy seems so determined to ignore us, but seeing this number helps keep me going.

Reached 500 supporters

May 22, 2009

Reached 100 supporters

May 6, 2009

7 Comments

J
Jason Barnes
17 years ago Featured

tried using one once and it kept riding up in my face every time i crashed. absolute nightmare

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Sarah McKenzie
17 years ago Featured

PFDs just get in the way of the harness and make it impossible to move right in the water. let us decide what is safe for us

M
Mike Haddad
17 years ago Featured

makes no sense to wear one when my kite acts as a giant float if things go south

K
Kevin Yamamoto
17 years ago Featured

already have enough gear attached to my body. dont need more bulk in the water

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Dave Novak
17 years ago Featured

TOTAL NONSENSE. government has no idea how these things work

M
Mark Garcia
17 years ago Featured

been kiting for 10 years and my board is all the flotation i need. stop with the regulations

T
Taylor Powley
9 years ago

I have LEI kites.. I've used them as flotation devices before.

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