SUP life jackets duty
New SUP laws take Swiss paddlers in the duty
SUP is perceived by many only as a leisure and bathing fun. At several points I have already hinted that life jackets really recommend.
Especially if
- You are not an active swimmer
- the water temperatures are low
You should definitely wear a life jacket at SUP .
If you are unsure which model is right for you, I recommend you to look at my guide to SUP lifejackets .
A leash is not required. I strongly advise to do so. If you fall into the water, it is not so easy to catch up with the wind and current. The tether is attached to your ankle and board, so the board can not swim away.
For whitewater tours or other flowing waters, the leash is only partially suitable, because there is a risk of entanglement in underwater plants or in the environment.
Are you still looking for the right leash? Then I advise you to my big SUP Leash comparison . There I present top models and explain what you had to look out for at leashs
SUP laws in Switzerland
In addition to this recommendation, since 2011 Stand Up Paddlers in Switzerland have already been taken into account.
As the leaflet of the vks (Association of Shipping Offices ) shows, stand up paddlers have to carry a life jacket on the many beautiful SUP spots in Switzerland if they move more than 300 meters from the shore.
Meanwhile, there are already first reports of paddlers who had to pay a penalty for paddling on Lake Zurich for lack of life jacket.
The vest must provide at least 50 Newton buoyancy. And in darkness or poor visibility, the board must be made visible by “white all-round light”.
Furthermore, a label of the owner of Stand Up Paddling boards is mandatory. Owners or owners of a board must note their name and a postal address clearly legible on the board.
Recommended for this is a waterproof pen * .
The marking serves on the one hand the environmental protection. Masterless SUP boards can be assigned to an owner. Probably follows then a fine.
On the other hand, the labeling should also help with theft. In the case of accidents, the person involved in the accident could also be identified.
Conclusion
For Stand Up Paddler in Switzerland, there is already an obligation to carry a life jacket. Paddlers in Germany and Austria are still free to wear one or not.
My guess is that if you’re unsure about your swimming skills or you’re planning something more dangerous (fast currents / whitewater SUP), you should definitely wear a life jacket.
In the other cases, the decision depends on you.
