Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges paddleboarders to be safe on rivers and reservoirs, because it’s so accessible and easy to learn.
“Paddleboarding is easy to learn and almost anyone can have fun doing it,” said Scott Rist, head ranger at Paonia, Sweitzer Lake and Crawford state parks. “But because it’s easy, a lot of people don’t realize that you can get in trouble when you fall off. We urge everyone to wear life jackets and use a tether.”
Every year, park rangers receive calls from paddleboarders who panic and need to be rescued when they’ve been separated from their boards. Most lakes and reservoirs in Colorado are windy; after someone falls off a paddleboard the wind often pushes it out of reach. On rivers, boards can float downstream with the current, and people not used to the cold water can feel the onset of trouble when it happens.
“We still have a lot of snow in the mountains and the runoff is coming later than usual this year, so cold water temperatures will be an issue throughout the summer,” Rist said.
Colorado boating regulations treat paddleboards like any other watercraft. Everyone who uses the craft must carry a personal floatation device, and there must be a sound-producing device, such as a whistle, on-board as well. Children younger than 13 must wear a personal floatation device when on the water, and PFDs must be fitted properly for safe buoyancy.
“Anything can happen at any time on the water, so we urge people to be cautious and consider their own and their loved one’s safety while they’re enjoying the water,” Rist said.
For more information, visit cpw.state.co.us/learn/pages/boatingsafety.aspx.
fstone@durangoherald.com
