Importance: Critical! This is essential safety knowledge that you must have, and pass on to your clients. It is also essential that SUP instructor fully understands the law in New Zealand regarding PFDs, to ensure they are operating legally, and to be able to properly advise their clients.
Using a PFD while on a paddleboard is a legal requirement in most areas of NZ, and indeed the rest of the world. However, some PFDs are well suited to SUP, others are most definitely not. Understanding the pros and cons of the various styles, and their relevance and suitability to SUP is vital knowledge for the SUP instructor. Not just for their own work, but also when advising clients on sup safety in general. There will be questions on this topic in the self-assessment test at the end of this course
The lesson will take about 20 minutes to view, and discusses:
- Why do we wear a PFD?
- The legal requirements in New Zealand regarding PFDs
- The different types of PFD
- The pros and cons of the different types
- Which is best for different types of paddler
Check Understanding!
- Do you understand why a PFD is so vital to SUP safety?
- Do you understand why we wear a PFD?
- Do you understand the law in New Zealand regarding PFDs and paddleboarding?
- Do you understand the different types of PFD?
- Do you understand the pros and cons of the different types?
- Do you understand which is best for different types of paddler?
If you’re unsure on any of these, go back and review the lesson again. There will be questions on this topic in the self-assessment test at the end of this course. Otherwise, you can move on to the next lesson.