2008 Review of the year regarding big wave surfing safety and personal watercraft use for tow surfing and or rescue applications by K38's founder, Shawn Alladio a world authority subject matter expert regarding RWC usage

1. 2008 Personal Watercraft Safety Review for Tow Surfing
by Shawn Alladio
Mon, Apr/14/2008
An increase in Tow Surfing related boating incidents in the Central California region the past several
years, coincides with the growth of the activity of towsurfing. This water sport has emerged with the
advent of newer vessel technologies and exploration into the extreme world of sports, which has in the
past 5 years leveled out from the realm of just professional athletes, to the invitation of mainstream
participants.
The growing pains experienced by the activity of towsurfing have been brought up in public safety
meetings, legislative circles, and become a focal point in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Management Review. Is it a safety issue or an environmental impact issue? It depends what team you
play on.
WHAT IS SAFE?
All things considered every single life activity could be broken down with 'examples' of negative and
positive impact. How best to manage a new sport that traditionally doesn't speak the language of the
surfing community for association benefits and stewardship of future access or legislative support? This
is the paradox of the towsurfing community.
The public safety agencies I work with are not against the PWC towsurfing activity but they have raised
concerns about the participant’s level or preparedness and perception of risk according to their water skill
ability. There is good reason for these concerns, just like any other activity, such as bicycle riding, kite
boarding, driving a car, or any other functional use of equipment, accidents can and will happen. A
towsurfing team needs to realize that they may not have the luxury of getting emergency assistance and
they must be prepared to self-rescue, especially in remote areas.
Surfing itself on the professional level dictated the need for sponsorship support and media coverage.
This rang even truer for towsurfing. Many teams will not go out without the support of a film crew or some
type of documentation of the excursion. Is this the new world vision of this generation where every facet
of our life is entered in digital coding, and uploaded for our friends and family in our online blogs and
albums?
Scientist does it, bird watches, mothers, nature enthusiasts, artists, we all are attracted to imagery, but
first we need a subject. What we used to know has shifted to a technology world of fast correspondence,
increased exposure and the elimination of once prized 'secret spots'.
REAL WORLD TRAINING
however, towsurfing or boating education did not seem to be the primary focus, nor understanding of the
rules, and just what were the rules? Who made them, enforced them and was there really ever a
'gentlemen's agreement'? Those who did seek out training probably had 'safety first' as their main
concern, while others 'trialed and error' on their own merits. Since there are no laws stating that there has
to be on water skill training or physical ability checks, anyone can enter into the towsurfing ring. Even a
six foot wave has power, imagine an untrained boat operator in twenty feet of surf with others operating in
the near vicinity?
VISIONARIES
The kingdom of big wave surfing owes itself to two people, primarily Bill Sharp for his marketing ability
and creative vision for starting the K2 Challenge in 1998, won by Taylor Knox on a 52' wave at the ISA
Reef World Team Championships. And for Gary Linden contest director at the Reef @ ISA event, who
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2. launched many a big wave surfers career with his contest vision and example, the tide turned in 1998 and
it hasn't gone low yet.
1998 was the pivotal year of Jet Ski towsurfing, as it was for big wave paddle surfing, one guard had
channeled into the next. The media saw the big wave arena through the eyes of the K2 Challenge and
the race was on, but the racers hadn't realized what would come next.
Even though Laird Hamilton had set the current mythological impact of the greatest waterman in our
times years earlier, nobody could come close to his lofty experiences; he aimed to the next best level
along with the Strapped Crew. There are many other great influences such as the prestigious Eddie Aikau
event, and the glory of the Strapped Crew who set the mark the rest of the world wanted to touch.
The XXL Big Wave Awards in 2008 have seen record entries in their iconic awards program. Submission
are via media formats. The big wave theme has circled the globe and locations have been exposed all
over the coastlines of continents. It is an inspirational time for big wave enthusiasts, but not for the purist,
who surfed just because they could.
Now, those with less talent are lamented by the pioneers, as only a motor has changed the wake to
fame. The 'Code' was originally paddle in first, then pull on the rope. That image has disappeared, and a
new and completely different sport has evolved and splintered from surfing itself. It has become a conflict
of use issue and in some areas a safety issue.
OUR HOUSE
I am only one person who is a part of this movement combined with many. When towsurfers began to
clip their lanyards into a personal watercraft that is when they walked 'into my house'. It was not the other
way around. I was driving a personal watercraft when they hated them or even knew what they were.
I have also been an original offender 20 plus years ago and learned my hard lessons at the expense of
others, long before any towsurfers had got their first bruise. It was then that I began to pay attention to my
behavior. I realized that by having people watch my operational behavior I could influence them to either
become competent operators or kill themselves.
Which did I want to be held responsible to in my soul? How did that change for me? Only one way,
admission to awareness and education, coupled with discipline. A very difficult mixture to embrace.
However with this change many big wave or towsurfing locations and the safety concerns needs to be
addressed by the towsurfing community, which has not become a collective consciousness of this user
group. Too many are busy throwing rocks at one another and placing blame elsewhere instead of
stepping forward, taking the heat and making a difference no matter what the opinion is.
WHAT WORKS-WHAT DOESN'T?
Community outreach and education; who is going to assume this position? Is the towsurfing community
waiting for government involvement to tell them how the pursuit of big waves is going to be allocated, to
whom and when, to formulate a ban? And is it possible that prejudice exists from federal stewardship of
Marine Sanctuaries, Reserves or Preserves are not working in partnership with the concerns of these
recreational boaters and they have simply thrown their hands up in despair?
Is it possible to bring a group together with a sense of self preservation and will they resist just about any
attempt for this unity? For years I have worked with PWC related political and educational issues
worldwide. I have never witnessed a user group so bent on self-destruction in terms of sport conservancy
as the towsurfing collective. They resist many opportunities for guidance or suggestions, much to the
dismay of not only me but my colleagues.
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3. Or is it that they are just waiting for the final bell to toll and trying to grab as many waves now and not
care about future towsurfing generations. Is it that selfish or just growing pains? Will this be their ultimate
defeat? I have been through this within the PWC community, one reason I am a partner with the AWA,
the American Watercraft Association. There is strength in numbers. awahg.org
STANDARDS
I drove to the USCG station Monterey Bay along with Don Curry and we provided a PWC overview for the
USCG Station Monterey with Federal jurisdiction in the Monterey Bay waters for boater related concerns.
Back in December when I went to the Monterey Bay area to investigate related PWC events from agency
and USCG distress calls and a recent drowning to see if any certified K38 operators had violated any
operational rules and would I address renouncing their certificate(s). What I found was that one ingredient
was missing: The buddy system is flawed, situational awareness and emergency preparedness are
sorely lacking.
Other agencies such as NOAA, Fish and Game, California Harbormasters, Port Authorities, State Parks,
Lifeguard agencies, Fire Rescue, law enforcement and volunteer Search and Rescue groups have seen
an increase in emergency calls during the big wave swells this winter, for beachgoers, boaters and
towsurfers.
Due to the nature of risk associated with water related activities, the National Safe Boating Council has
establishes new standards for certification through boater education. Boater education certification is
now valid for a period of 3 years. When the mandatory titling comes from the USCG and all US boats will
be documented federally, eventually mandatory education and even licensing will occur nationwide over
time. K38 will comply with these new boater education standards as the changes are implemented by
these governing associations.
K38 has established boater education standards in compliance with the National Association of Boating
Law Administrators and the National Safe Boating Council. These standards are to ensure the safety of
boaters and to reduce liability issues. If you have taken a K38 training course and have a successful
level of completion with a certificate, you are expected to uphold the standards you were taught and to
abide by all boating laws, rules and regulations.
That knowledge has been invested in you. Essentially you are a boating steward now and there are
certainly things you are responsible for. That includes the assumed risk of your passengers while
underway. You are responsible both as the owner and or the captain of your vessel for the safety of all
passengers on board you boat. This includes with insurance, injury, accident or death.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
Is it really possible? A distress call was made for a towsurfer who had lost his partner, several PWC's
became disoriented in the fog, another towsurfers PWC had failed and he was adrift alone, another had a
serious laceration. When a distress call is made to the USCG, Channel 16 alerts all USCG stations via
radio to the nature of the distress, the location and alerts other vessels in the vicinity to render assistance
if possible. Immediately all public safety agencies are alerted.
There are a series of related events that need to take place for an accident. If you could stop frame each
sequence you could see what led up to the problem at hand! Would you be able to change or stop
anything, decisions, and actions in hindsight? 'Ask me how I know', rings true when I look back at all my
own poor choices that placed me in harm’s way and my equipment. Remember what I just said, each
step to a disaster has a certain element that keeps moving forward, sometimes its best just to 'stop'.
IS IT POSITIVE MEDIA RELATIONS?
Working with these agencies for field service training relative to personal watercraft use for rescue and
patrol, there are not too many incidents that go unnoticed or unreported in the media. This is due to
several factors, one the high surf warnings often bring people to the coastline to watch the heavy water
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4. action, and secondly, many towsurfers rarely tow surf without video or camera capabilities, from either
professional photographers/film makers or from the general public.
People change when a camera is focused, behavior is altered and adrenaline is a strong
motivator. These are not bad things, but all things must be managed for balance. Cameras are making
heroes out of idiots. When a mishap occurs and it’s placed on a film for entertainment purposes, it sets in
action an acceptable mode of behavior. There is no such thing as a dead hero.
THE FAME FACTOR
Lower level surfers who were looked down upon by the elite quickly came to the shoulder on a PWC and
began launching a media career. The public draw to the mystique of big waves also encouraged the
behavior, and many wonderful and inspiring images have been produced as well as horrific instances of
near fatal miracles. Competitions are not bad; in fact they are incredibly motivating and personally selfgratifying. But a person should never place their life at risk or others unless they are capable of the level
of risk associated with the activity.
And remember, when a rescue call comes down, the lives of the rescuers are placed on the front line.
They have families to come home to at the end of the day. Every time they go out in to the field, they
place their life in harm’s way to help save yours. And it's not one person. Multiple agency response is
typical, the resources, manpower and expense can be tremendous. Know Before You Tow!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SOUL OF SURFING?
Internet searches within 24 hours after any swell will produce amazing photo albums or images from
various locations tracking the powerful images of this new aquatic motorized sport. Many countries now
are heralding their own big wave heroes conquering local breaks, the army is growing. It is a migratory
sport, but is those who migrate good stewards of this sport? Are they responsible users representing a
code of boating ethics or are they bringing their behavioral problems to other regions, training locals and
contaminating surf zones?
EDUCATING THE ENEMY
Who would you call the enemy? Yourself or them, or me? Be concerned about the enemy within, the one
that does not care, the one that does not hold them accountable or reflect on their influence on
others. Be very afraid.
Don and I went over the various safety concerns and equipment that towsurfers should have on board,
and where the storage of these items would be located, and the basic functions and feature of various
personal watercraft for on duty staff. This will help them with PWC vessel inspections and operational
awareness. They had questions about the safety gear and the driving needs, why is that? Because they
understand the team ethic and that education save lives, they train all the time to serve you in a time of
need.
NUMBERS DON'T LIE
Throughout California's harbors, the local agencies who respond to water related incidents have seen an
increase of towsurfing related launches prior to sunrise and during times of fog or low visibility. This can
lead to search and rescue calls if a tow team finds themselves in danger or has not prepared for their
boat emergency equipment properly. You can now be billed for any Search and Rescue that is deemed a
liability issue for agencies, and this is spreading worldwide. Your preparedness is imperative more now
than ever. But do not hesitate to call if you are in need!
Officer Authority-Compliance and Assistance
In California, every peace officer of the State, City County, Harbor District or other political subdivision of
the State has the authority to stop and inspect vessels to enforce local boating laws when there is
probable cause that a violation exists. Peace officers also have the authority to terminate voyages, escort
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5. boaters ashore, or order boaters to the nearest moorage if an unsafe condition is found that cannot be
corrected on the spot. Boat operators must immediately yield
PRUDENT MARINER
A prudent mariner is well prepared. A prudent mariner understands risk and does their best to minimize
the risk; this is done by pre planning! Everyone involved in the activity of towsurfing will experience a
catastrophic event within their career, either loss of equipment or personal injury or witness
such. Insurance companies are seeing a rise in towsurfing related claims not consistent with the
recreational public. Many tow surfers are just plain lucky because the personal watercraft of today is
designed so well, they are simply 'forgiving'.
California does not have mandatory boating education as of 2008; however I recommend you take not
only online courses, but hands on training programs.
These are National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boater education
programs. Do not miss taking this online course! Print your certificate upon successful completion. In
California persons convicted of an on water moving violation must take a court ordered boating safety
class! pwcsafetyschool.com
WHAT DON'T YOU HAVE?
It is imperative that you have a functioning GPS and understand how to operate it properly, including
spare batteries.
It is recommended that you have a compass on board either your vessel or on your person. It will do you
no good to have a radio stored in your PWC if you have become separated with it in the
water. Communications are a must, a cell phone, a marine band UHF hand held radio (use waterproof
bags or containers), a sound signaling device attached to your PFD, an aerosol fog horn, hand held
flares, proper strength and length rated vessel tow lines, and other required and recommended gear.
An agency vessel will not use a tow line that is given to them from a boater; they will not trust the integrity
of the materials. The USCG is not 'vessel assist’; they are not on duty to provide services for vessels who
need a tow, only for people or vessels in distress. If you have another tow surfing vessel/team in your
area, the buddy system applies at all times, it is expected of them to make the tow, discuss this before
you go!
1/3 fuel underway, 1/3 for return and 1/3 for emergency use applies Many towsurfing teams do not look
out for one another, nor have proper communication in case of an emergency, what to do or who to call in
case of an emergency, do you have numbers laminated in your boat? Do you have your personal
identification available and registration on board?
File a float plan with a family member or a friend with your location of operations, give them a timeframe
you want them to call the authorities. It is advisable to get insurance in case of an injury accident or a
potential lawsuit.
Do not launch in fog, it is against the law, as well as it is to operate half hour after sunset to a 1/2 hour
before sunrise even if navigation lights are used. Every person on board must have a properly fitted,
sized and functional 'type' of PFD worn at all times. If you launch in fog you are risking not only your life,
your vessel, those with you and you are breaking the law.
Lanyards must not be altered and must be attached to the body of the operator.
You are required by law to file a boating accident report within 48 hours after an incident where there is
$500 bodily injury or damage to your boat (PWC) with local authorities. File within 24 hours of a death, or
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6. if there is any medical treatment beyond first aid needed. Especially if there is an insurance claim or
medical report filed. You can get forms from the California Department of Boating and Waterways, along
with your float plan, keep one of these in your vehicle glove box. dbw.co.gov
A tow surfing board or rescue board is considered a 'towable device'. The law applied to a 'towable
aquaplane device' is specific in California and other States. Currently California law does not support
towsurfing without the presence of a spotter on board. In the State of Hawai'i, Thrillcraft have specific
rules that apply for the purpose of towsurfing, you must know the rules of the road and abide by all
applicable boating laws and regulations. Ignorance is not above the law, check with your local boating
law administrator to inquire about what your legal requirements are.
CALIFORNIA LAW EXAMPLES
· Teak surfing, platform dragging, or body surfing behind a vessel, or allowing someone to occupy the
swim platform, swim deck, swim step or swim ladder for any period of time, except very briefly (such as
loading, unloading or docking) is a violation of California law. These banned activities can have deadly
consequences because of the carbon monoxide associated with the boat's exhaust that can accumulate
in these areas. Participants can be overcome by exhaust fumes and go unconscious which could lead to
drowning. Participants are also dangerously close to the boat's propeller/s which could result in an
accident. (NOTE: Be mindful that the use of a rescue board can place your airway direct to the exhaust
exposing you to carbon monoxide)
· A person on water skis or similar device must wear a properly fitting vest style PFD. Inflatable life
jackets and ski belts are not approved.
· When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the observer must be at least 12 years old and
able to observe the skier and relay signals to the operator.
· You may not water ski from sunset to sunrise - local laws may also restrict skiing at certain times of the
day in certain areas.
· A red or orange 12 inch square flag must be hoisted to indicate a downed skier or a skier preparing to
ski, or to indicate that a ski or ski rope is in the water in the vicinity of the vessel.
· Vessels engaged in diving activity and are restricted in their ability to maneuver, must hoist a blue and
white alpha flag that measures at least one meter (3'3") in height and must be visible all around the
horizon
ONE IS NONE
The most chronic problem facing on water time for towsurfing teams is not to have an effective
emergency and evacuation plan. The military personnel I work with have a saying 'One is None', and
divided you fall, so stay united, stick together and create an effective communication plan and operational
program. How many have never trained with dealing with a severely disabled personal watercraft, or a
serious injury or a near drowning situation? Have you practiced to your real world concerns and are you
even aware you are at risk and how would you define those risks?
BUDDY CHECK
Peter Davi drowned at Ghost Tree on December 4th of 2007. He made choices that contributed to his
situation. Several people who were concerned about his welfare made personal contact with him to
assist him out of the area, which he declined. He was a swimmer at this point, without a surfboard, which
he chose to be by personal volition. However his risk increased significantly and was compounded from
other contributable factors. There were approximately 20 tow teams in the vicinity reported that day.
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7. Regardless of whom this person was in the water or what choices they made, somebody should have
taken the extra effort to standby 100, 300, 400 feet away and keep a watch on this swimmer until he set
foot safely on shore or signaled for assistance. Would this have cost them 20 minutes time? It is not
acceptable to ignore the risk of swimmers or boaters in areas of high risk and dismiss their actions, even
if they appear irrational or unlike their character.
You are not responsible for others actions, but you can make a difference if their situation changes,
perhaps the spirit of compassion applies. If anything can be learned from this tragedy, it is to keep a
watch, a buddy watch. Count boats, count heads, count surfboards and look for any type of movement in
the water that is not intuitively correct. If you have a bad thought, follow through with it if it’s a safety
concern.
· You cannot prevent someone from making their own choice and acting upon it
· You can make good choices based off your level of awareness or experience
· Do not take any unnecessary risk or place others at risk
· Do not place yourself in an irrecoverable situation 'know when to go-when not to go'
· You must be capable of 'multi-tasking' at all times while underway
A Buddy Check also signifies that you are not solely just focused on getting more waves, all the waves or
some of the waves, you have to look out for those in the lineup at all times. When something goes wrong,
you will be placed under extreme stressors and pressure. There are many things that will need to be
addressed in a short amount of time. Do you have basic first aid knowledge, do you know how to set a
tourniquet, or apply pressure to wounds.
Do you know how to de-water a PWC engine, tow or swim a semi submerged PWC, or do you know
when to call it a loss and walk away and do nothing because the risk is so extreme your life could be in
danger? Are you safer swimming out and away or running with the currents or will the rocks ahead prove
lethal?
Buddy checks are very important, it only takes a second for things to fall apart, and it can take hours for
recovery. None of us are immune to this, but the good news is that the skill level of operator’s increases
with each experience and the water rescue skills with your boat may eclipse what a local agency will be
able to provide. Many rescue calls are after the fact and often respond to body recovery, so you must
always be prepared to self-rescue, buddy check others and provide a measure of water rescue capability
either at the break you are using or while transiting to and from.
LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES
There has not been a reported fatality anywhere in the globe to date with towsurfing itself. However there
have been measurable vessel loss and personal injury. I am also one of these included in this description,
I can say 'ask me how I know?' Life jackets save lives! The National Safe Boating Council has annual
campaigns to educate boaters and to encourage the use of Life Jackets. One life saved is one life lived!
In 1998 I began campaigning in my classes for towsurfers to wear Personal Flotation Devices. PFD's or
life jackets. I was ridiculed for this the same way lifeguards chastised me, why is that? Their comfort level
was to 'dive' below the surface of a wave, it was acceptable practice. However, when they 'stepped into
my house, their house of boating', they didn't yet realize they were now 'boat operators' and there were
laws that overrode their familiar comfort level. It really had nothing to do with me, but everything to do with
saving their own life or someone else's.
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8. There has not been a drowning yet of a towsurfer who has worn a PFD. However there is still strong
resistance to this and many are wearing flotation devices that are not rated properly or rated at all for
proper buoyancy. In fact, I would like to set the record straight: For the purpose of towsurfing, one must
be wearing a swiftwater type of PFD that has extra flotation.
Please quote me on this. Why? Because in aerated water conditions your body needs additional
buoyancy to offset the air mixture with water. In a court of law this could be easily addressed if you are
inside the impact zone with aerated water, you would be required to have the proper amount of flotation.
Ask me how I know?
If for any other, your lungs are not lifesaving devices, they will not hold your body up on the surface, and
your wetsuit will do even less, if you have a problem, are rendered unconscious or breathe in water, a
PFD will at least bring your body to the surface if you are not wrapped or pinned on an object and you
stand the chance of the Golden Hour of resuscitation, if not the first 5 critical minutes. It is the BEST
investment you will ever make. http://safeboatingcouncil.org/
UNDER THE INFLUENCE
This includes prescription drugs, or narcotics, and or alcohol, get proper rest and nutrition.
· No person shall operate any vessel, water skis or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
· No person who is addicted to any drugs shall operate any vessel, water skis or similar device.
· No person 21 years of age or older may operate any type vessel, water skis or similar device with a
BAC of 0.08% or greater.
· A person under 21 years of age or older who has been arrested for operating a mechanically propelled
vessel "under the influence" may be subjected to a chemical test to determine BAC.
· Refusal to submit to a chemical test may result in increased penalties upon conviction. Guilty operators
could receive up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
· A person under the age of 21 with a BAC of 0.01% or more may face a fine of up to $250 and be
required to participate in an alcohol education or community service program. The person may also lose
their privilege of getting or keeping a driver's license.
· The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may suspend or revoke your vehicle driver's license if
convicted of operating a vessel while intoxicated.
· Any person convicted of operating a motorboat under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be ordered
by the court to take a boating safety course approved by the Department of Boating and Waterways.
BOAT SMART FROM THE START!
Shawn Alladio is a National Safe Boating Council certified boating safety instructor, creator of the K38
Way of training since 1989 that is represented in 12 countries for personal watercraft education through
K38 Water Safety: boat based rescue training, legislative and event management, IJSBA professional
racer, partner in Liquid Militia, mother and friend to many, and not favored by a few (which is fine by her).
www.K38rescue.com
www.LiquidMilitia.com
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