‘Know before you go’: Oregon Marine Board, Bend watercraft dealer offer paddleboard safety advice, warning as summer arrives

Jillian Fortner has a report on KTVZ News at Five

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Paddleboarding is one of the many fun ways Central Oregonians enjoy the local rivers, but experts say there are important safety precautions to take before heading out on the water.

“A lot of people assume they’ll be fine because they can swim, or think nothing will happen,” Sue Fox with Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe said Friday. “Most of the time, that’s true. But as an old friend used to say, 'The river only has to win once.'”

Fox says it's important to understand the waterway and come with the proper gear. Always wear a properly fitted life jacket.

"The reason we don't want them loose is because if you were to fall in the water, you could easily fall out of it. The PFG could come up over your face," Fox added.

Chris Gerdes, the park manager at Prineville Reservoir, says a recent incident nearly turned deadly because the person wasn’t wearing the proper safety gear.

“We already had a near-drowning this year,” Gerdes said. “Again, this person did not have their life jacket on."

The Oregon State Marine Board recommends using a quick-release leash in fast-moving water.

"There’s an emerging trend when we look at the causes for fatalities in recent years, where a person, otherwise well-outfitted, died because their leash to the SUP became entangled in brush or other debris on area rivers," said Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board.

Stand-up paddleboarding incidents and fatalities were infrequent prior to 2019. Between 2020 and 2024, there were three SUP injuries beyond first aid and 10 fatalities where either a life jacket wasn’t worn, or the person became entangled in an obstruction on moving water - without a quick-release leash.

Sue Fox said, "With ocean surfing, an ankle leash is great. But on the river, that has different hazards."

Entanglements do happen with life jacket straps as well, officials noted. However, the chance of survival from drowning is greatly improved. It’s important for paddlers to make sure the straps on their life jackets are tucked back into the jacket itself, and the slack is not allowed to dangle.

The Oregon State Marine Board also requires whistles on paddlecraft, a rule state park officials are reminding visitors to follow.

Gerdes said, "It actually is something that you could get ticketed for. So I really want to avoid having that happen."

More safety tips can be found on the Oregon State Marine Board’s paddling page.

For questions about gear, the staff at Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe are ready to help.