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MAUI BIG WAVE TOW-IN SURFING @ JAWS

                 

Tow-In session @ JAWS, the most famous big wave break in the world. March 02, 2005. JAWS, Maui.

Tow surfing, is it the future?

                 

I love the start of this film, how close was snips to letting go of it to early. Would have been a nasty mistake. This is possibly one of my favourite surfing clips.

ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL TOWSURFERS, (APT) OPENS NEW

The Association of Professional Towsurfers,

the official non-profit sanctioning body of Professional Tow-In Surfing,
announced that it has opened new and larger offices in Laguna Beach,
California and hired a full time event manager.

The 2007 APT World Tour Tow-In Surfing Circuit currently has four major
events scheduled for 2007 in Hawaii, Mexico and Chile.

Eric Akiskalian, APT's Founder and President says, I had an idea of how
much work was involved but this is more then we can handle by ourselves
and this is why we are gearing up with more offices and more personnel.

The APT corporate offices are located at 759 South Pacific Coast Hwy in
Laguna Beach, CA and will be run by an event management veteran,
CarolAnne Giustina. Having managed event properties such as the IFMA
Freestyle Motocross Tour; The United States of America Snowboard Tour;
The Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding and the Jeep King of the Hill Mt.
Biking events among others, CarollAnne is well suited for her role as
Administration Director of the APT.

Carol Anne is a highly capable professional who has a long history of
managing events and working with professional athletes, said APT
Marketing Director, Jimbeau Andrews. We are very pleased to have her
on board and helping to grow this organization and our sport of Tow-In
Surfing.

One of Carol Annes first tasks is to coordinate new APT charter clubs and
members joining from around the world. APT Charter Clubs are popping
up across the country to support the growth of the sport, the APT
organization and the World Tour Tow-In Circuit in a myriad of ways. APT
Charter Clubs have been formally established in Lincoln City and
Newport, Oregon.

Other locations in the development stages include:
Canada, Washington, Northern California, Central California, Southern
California, Florida, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Hawaii, Tahiti, France,
Spain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and
Japan.

Other tow surfing links include:

http://www.shawnalladio.com/k38/k38.asp

http://www.highsurfrescue.com/

http://www.garrettmcnamara.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tow-in_surfing

Check these mental tow surfing links out

I am flying off to Oahu next week, so am hoping to get good video footage and info on whats happening.  I am staying at Rocky Point rights so not far to Sunset. My boards are being shaped by Biro a crazy Brazillian charger.

Have a Happy Holidays guys and I hope it gets XXL at a spot near you.

1) Tow surfer

2) If your going to go, do not fall off on the first wave. If you do just hope that your tow partner is the type of person you thought he or she was. As you know, once you start playing in these locations its a team effort and TRUST is everything.

P.W.C, Jet Ski, Jet Skier

I have just spent the last three months travelling between Mumbles, Gower and Newquay in Cornwall training for the K38 Tow surf operator course run by big wave legend and Chairman of the British Tow Surfing Association, Chris Bertish.

GSD has joined several clubs both in Wales and in Cornwall which then permit launch of the ski for tow surfing training and operations.  I can honestly say that the K38 training course was one of the most educational I have been on.

The training was all about safety, first aid, risk analysis, required equipment, pick ups and rescues of the athelete (tow surfer) For more information on the course se the link below for Shawn Alladio.

Chris told us that every time you go out and train or operate you are learning, which is something Shawn Alladio had told him.

I now realise that prior to this K38 course I did not have a clue about P.W.C's and the massive preparation that is needed to tow surf the outer banks. My training has just started, I am now going to book myself on to a VHF radio operator course and in the summer get training from the RYA on reading charts and plotting courses.

One of the main things that come through was the need for team work and 'slow is pro'. I have learned that GSD's P.W.C is not a toy for my friends or staff to race around the bay on. 

No, it is a vital piece of equipment that must be maintained checked and doublechecked. The ski, can in the righthands, i.e those that have been trained save lives, perform extreme rescues and tow atheletes into XXL waves way out in the middle of the ocean.

SurfGSD and I are just starting out on this new activity and are excited that we have already learned so much thanks to Chris bertish and K38.  Relevant websites are below.

www.chrisbertish.com  Big wave surfer and K38 trainer. His site is more an informative site than anything else...So friends, family and interested surfers can gain insight, knowledge and inspiration into the path that has taken me to experience, travel & surf waves far past my wildest dreams...

www.shawnalladio.com  K38 Water Safety - Mission Statement
K38 Water Safety is an established and growing family of water rescue and safety specialists committed to enhancing the occupational and recreational use of the PWC (personal watercraft). Homeland Security has become a major defining training force utilizing Personal Watercraft -K38 provides PWC rescue boat courses for law enforcement, military, lifeguard, fire department including other types of professional agencies and athletes from kite surfing, tow surfing, wake boarding, competition, movie stunt and safety management included. Shawn Alladio of K38 Water Safety; personally manages safety for big wave surfing and IJSBA racing events and other promotional on water activities along with trained staff members.

www.cornishjetskierclub.org We are a non-profit organisation set up in 2004 with the aim of increasing the awareness, enjoyment and safety of Personal Watercraft users in Cornwall.

www.mumblejetskiclub.co.uk As locals to Swansea ourselves, we wanted to continue to use the slip way as it is one of the very few places which is both convenient and easy to launch and recover craft. We persuaded the local council to let us try and manage the issues which were causing the problems and start a club which would oversee this.

http://www.rya.org.uk/ The RYA is a UK membership organisation for recreational boat owners and crew with over 103,000 personal members. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of RYA affiliated clubs and class associations. We fight unnecessary bureaucracy and threats to boating on behalf of these members and affiliates in the UK and abroad.

http://www.towsurfer.com/ The sport of extreme paddle surfing and tow-in surfing should not be attempted without extensive training, experience and professional assistance. This is both a high risk and dangerous sport and may result in or cause serious injury to oneself or another and may even cause death. Always consult with a certified and trained professional in areas of PWC Training and Ocean / Surf Rescues. Never paddle into large surf alone unless you're Jeff Clark. You should always provide a float plan with your Harbor Masters office before departing the harbor.

British Tow Surf Association

British Tow surfing Association has been launched to help promote the sport and educate those that wish to attempt it.  For more info checkout  http://www.b-tsa.co.uk/    

Definition

Tow Surfing is a new, high risk, extreme sport, where PWC Operator/athlete sometimes using a rescue board attached to the stern deck; with a determined length of towable line with a grab handle. The PWC operator and athlete must wear Coastguard approved Impact Vests appropriate for use/properly fitted. The athlete is "surfing' a unique design board that incorporates specialized size/weight/foot straps. Operator will tow the athlete into a peaking wave face prior to plunging, using the speed of the vessel to launch his/herself in the wave.
The athlete will then, release the grab handle/line and free surf the wave using the waves energy & power.
It is each Tow team’s responsibility to be adequately educated & informed with the correct, equipment, safety gear & training necessary, to minimise the potential risks & hazards to both the surfer, operator, other persons and the environment. 

Objectives
B-TSA is self regulated Association, with the objectives of supporting the safe and responsible growth & development of Tow Surfing in the Britain

Mission Statement

To promote Tow Surfing through the media to the general public in a manner which stresses the importance of Safety, Education, Self Regulation and Provide Information, Awareness & Training

Why we need the organisation
• To encourage all members to use and follow the correct and basic tow surfing etiquette, using & practicing safe procedures & protocols with the correct training & equipment, to make operating as safe as possible, by minimising the risk to all!
• Install a self-governing and regulated body, before regulations and Government/ Council controls are enforced upon us
• Education- seminars- Every 6 months
• Tow Surf community meetings-Every Quarter (Members)
• Guidance-Equipment & Safety
• Community – Organisation meetings/affiliation- a supporting body with a voice for a unique group
• Aim to open up other new launch sites/locations around the country
• Educate the public regarding new PWC’s (Jet ski) 4-stroke technology and its environmental benefits.

Safety guidelines
The basic recommended safety gear to be used while operating a PWC in a Surf/Tow-surf environment:

Essential Comments
A seaworthy, well maintained, serviced and checked PWC 4 stroke recommended as it is environmentally Friendly
Straps to prevent the seat covers coming off
A Rescue sled Recommended Wahoo-Life sled or HSA sled
Extra kill cord (attached near the steering console (desirable))
Correct buoyancy aids/Impact vests Minimum 50 Newtons bouyancy
HSA or equivalent floating Tow Rope and Handle + Quick Release System for Tow Rope
Correct boards with straps for bigger surf
A pair of swim fins Attached to the operator when operating in large surf.
Gear bag/ Throw bag – safety equipment
Mobile phone/VHF in a waterproof pouch Each PWC carrying a VHF must have a VHF licensed operator aboard
Inshore Flare kit Remember to check expiry date
Impeller anti-fouling tools including goggles
Basic tools Pliers, screwdriver, spare spark plug, spark plug spanner
Correct wetsuit/Boots/Gloves/Hood for the time of year
Bow grab line Used for towing/hang grab/safety back-up
Whistle Attached to buoyancy aid to call for help if PWC operator is in water

Jet ski users information.

Jet ski use in Swansea information. Provided by city and county of Swansea.

If you want to use Swansea's slipways to launch your boat or jet-ski, you'll have to register first.

Swansea has introduced a Boat Registration Scheme, as the number of reported incidents of careless and dangerous driving by operators of small speed boats and jetskis has been increasing over the past few years. 

The scheme will help to improve safety in congested water areas, and will help to identify drivers of craft who are operating outside the local by-laws or driving their craft in a manner which is dangerous to others.

The powered craft affected by the scheme are all craft with an engine power of 15 h.p. and over.

Details of ownership of the craft are logged with the Council and a yearly registration number is allocated. Two stickers, with the registration number prominent, are issued to craft owners, and these stickers must be displayed on either side of the craft. The yearly scheme runs from 1st April until 31st March.

To be able to launch from our slips these stickers MUST be displayed and it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the stickers are correctly fixed. Craft must also be covered by third party insurance.

Application forms are available from Knab Rock slip office (please telephone   360082 for opening hours) or from The Guildhall extension 635436.

General information

As the owner of a motorised craft you have a responsibility towards yourself, your passengers and other users of the water.

Before putting to sea, acquire some basic skills of seamanship, use of safety equipment and boat/engine maintenance.

What to do before setting off

Check the weather forecast
Check on the local conditions e.g. tide times, underwater obstructions, by-laws
Ensure your engine and equipment is well maintained
Always use fresh fuel
Wear a life jacket
Park your vehicle and trailer with care and consideration. Do not obstruct access for other users, particularly the Emergency Services
Carry flares or other devices for raising the alarm 

Be safe afloat

DO NOT drink and drive! It is as dangerous on the sea as it is on land
Leave details of where you intend to go and estimated time of return
Stay at least 100m from shore at the popular bathing beaches. No launching/recovery of craft at Langland or Caswell unless in emergency
Observe speed limits
Connect the engine shut-off lanyard if applicable
Do not allow young children to be in control of powered water craft or speed boats

Join a club www.mumblesjetskiclub.co.uk