US Coast Guard Moves To Craft New SUP Regulations

Photo Courtesy: Knut Sørby

SAN DIEGO, CA - Standup Paddle (SUP) Boarders now have a chance to help shape legislation aimed at regulating the sport. The ACA, the American Canoe Association, one of the country’s oldest action sports association, founded in the 1800’s, has long been advising the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on safety regulations for paddle sports. More recently, government agencies have been pressing the USCG to issue clearer rules regulating stand up paddling. Christopher Stec, ACA’s chief operating officer, is now serving on a committee that is helping the USCG to do just that.

Stec has been a passionate friend and supporter of the stand up paddle industry, having attended several Standup Paddle Industry Association (SUPIA) functions and more. He has reached out to SUPIA and other governing bodies in SUP to ask for direction on the recommendations to be made to USCG. Much of the discussion surrounds usage and/or carriage of PFD’s and leashes and under which instances these should or should not be required.

Safety issues tend to be a key factor in driving or thwarting growth of various sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding and more. In the 1980’s/1990’s, according to Glenn Brumage, former member of the board of directors of the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), “the skateboard industry made a colossal mistake by picking the wrong fight,” said Brumage. “We went to Washington to advocate against any mandatory usage of helmet, pitting the industry against the regulation crowd. During that time, a kid died at a skatepark, sending a wave of anti-skateboard sentiment across the country. That led to skateparks being bulldozed everywhere and the sport saw a drastic drop in participation as a result.” He then concluded: “it’s really important for you as an industry not to be stupid by picking the wrong fight.”

Whether it’s the threat of a public relations crisis or bulldozed skateparks, safety concerns appear to be at the core of nearly every action sports industry. And here again, Washington is already in motion to make decisions that could profoundly impact the sport of stand up paddle boarding. What’s more, stand up paddling comes with many shades and nuances, ranging from racing and surfing to rivers and beyond. With that in mind, history seems to teach that the stand up paddle industry and its participants must be deeply engaged and proactive about the safety issues surrounding its sport. Now much like the sport itself, the views are equally diverse and disparate. But in all of that, there lies a reasonable approach and let’s pray that wisdom carries the day.

What would you tell the US Coast Guard on the topic of regulating SUP? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Join SUPIA to be actively involved with the topic of SUP regulations. Join here.