The Oregon State Marine Board is making waves in the stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) community with their latest safety directive: Don a life jacket and ankle leash, but choose the latter wisely based on the water you're traversing. The insistence on appropriate gear comes as the state has seen an uptick in SUP-related accidents and fatalities, echoing a national concern as more adventurers take to rivers with boards designed for calmer waters.
According to a recent announcement, the Marine Board's Boating Safety Program Manager, Brian Paulsen, stressed the importance of proper equipment on moving water, stating, "Most ankle leashes used by SUP users are not designed for quick release. If you get it tangled on rocks or downed trees, the leash can make escape nearly impossible," signaling a growing trend in SUP injuries and deaths that has claimed 10 lives between 2020 and 2024, per the Oregon State Marine Board. Conventional Velcro leashes found in roadside and surf shops can turn from convenience to a snare when caught on the river's natural hazards; a quick-release leash worn around the waist or attached to a life jacket, however, offers a lifeline to those in need.
The Marine Board advocates not just for the possession but the wearing of life jackets while paddleboarding; a notion amplified by the fact that even a jacket merely stowed on a board can swiftly drift out of reach during an unexpected tumble into the water. They further suggest considering belt-pack inflatable life jackets, which are less cumbersome but equally protective when properly donned—the buckle securing the back, the inflatable section resting in front, ready at the pull of a tab.
