Dress for the swim home!

moondog · Mon May 16, 16 5:26 pm **Dress for the swim home!**

After almost succumbing to hypothermia in MN. 30 years ago windsurfing, I always dress for the swim home. 99% of the time I'm overdressed kiting. Today I wasn't! I got separated from my board at the Hatchery. With the strong current and 25-35 mph wind and mast high waves I lost sight of my board. After 45 minutes in the water I had a cramp in my right calf and was in the first stages of hypothermia. I was in my winter wetsuit, connected hood, gloves and booties. Two buddies were trying to retrieve my board but struggling with the conditions. Travis "The Man" Potter finally succeeded in bringing the board back to me as I was heading in to dump my kite in the lower Hatch Bay. My muscle response was slowing down and his timing was perfect! It is up to us locals to watch out for out-of towners when they are underdressed. Water temp was 58 air temp was 60. Other than that it was a 5 out of 5 on the funhoggers scale!!!!

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Yep! Same thing happened to me a few years back and it scared the hell out of me! Eric tacked upwind on an underpowered 9m, when I was underpowered on a 12m, to drag me to Wells Island. Forever grateful! You can always flush a wetsuit if hot. Dress for the swim! Thanks for the reminder and glad you are ok! Glad we all look out for each other even when we are not buddied up as we always should be.

SR

Ho-Toe · Tue May 17, 16 7:16 am **ditto for the ocean**

Same thing goes for the ocean, especially in summer.

Years ago, before I took up kiting, I watched in disbelief as some cool guy went out kiting at [__spot name redacted__] in shorts and a neoprene rash guard. He didn't last long.

The most hypothermic I've ever been (I'm also a winter/alpine sports enthusiast and have worked in the polar regions) has been scuba diving off the Oregon coast in July, water temp = 42 deg F. It was debilitating and frightening. And once you realize you have a problem--you've got a *serious* problem.

Play it safe--wear your rubber! Very Happy

Bill C · Since 15 Sep 2005 202 Posts Portland Stoked

My own incident was windsurfing Nehalem Bay years ago in the winter during south winds. This was before kiting. Thought I wearing a decent wetsuit, but during a swim back to shore due to equipment failure, motor functions to legs and arms began shutting down and mind became foggy. I could barely lift either arm above head, plus I wasn't wearing any flotation. Either my brain couldn't communicate with legs and arms or they wouldn't respond.

Fortunately, I got pushed close to shore by the wind and current and just laid on the beach until my body could function again. If I had gotten separated from my equipment, I would have drowned. After that, I made sure I wore proper wetsuit and some sort of flotation. You never know how long the swim back might be in worse conditions.

Nak · Tue May 17, 16 12:02 pm

Something to bear in mind: The first thing to go is your ability to think clearly and recognize you are in trouble. That's a big part of what makes hypothermia so dangerous. The insidious degradation of your mental faculties delays the realization you are in danger, then limits the thought process and physical dexterity required to get you out of danger.

If you're assisting somebody that may have hypothermia, understand that they will be far less proficient than normal and even experts may do something decidedly stupid. They aren't dumb asses, their brain functions are shutting down. When you see this, take whatever action you can to get them out of the water ASAP. Abandoning gear may be required. Muscle shutdown is coming, and even a very fit individual will drown without a flotation vest once their muscles shutdown. Even hanging on to something for flotation may not be possible in this scenario.

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

moondog · Tue May 17, 16 5:20 pm

I forgot to add that I was also in my awesome "Dakine Impact vest with flotation". After a professional SUP rider drowned in the Gorge last summer, I decided not to temp fate and keep my wife happy. The flotation helped immensely during my 45 minute drift down the river. As Nak mentioned I knew the first stage of hypothermia was kicking in when muscle response and thought processes were slowing down, so I knew it was time to bail, luckily Travis showed up seconds later with my board. The reason I didn't bail earlier was that my two buds were attempting to recover my board as I watched their struggles. Side note: A SUP rider went by me earlier with a shorty wetsuit and no life jacket in extreme conditions. We have to look out for our brothers that don't have a clue when things go south!

deminimis · Since 15 Jul 2014 326 Posts On the Rocks Obsessed

Good stuff to remember. It can also come on lickity split. Got my nastiest taste kayaking run-off in a steep creek in N. Cal 21 years ago this month. Was wearing a dry suit, capilene underneath, hood under my helmet, etc. Had to wet exit and went for a swim. Wasn't long before I could barely squeak out a "help" in hopes of getting corralled by the only boater still on top of the water (it was a crazy ride). Still did a few rivers after that, but hung up my paddles not long after (that being close-call #2). Hypothermia sucks and it can kill you in a blink of an eye.

moondog · Wed Jun 08, 16 8:18 am

When I was out kiting yesterday, I saw a young buck whizz by me with, "unbelievable" no wet suit on, just a pair of trunks. When uneducated kiters see 90+ degrees on the event site lawn, They think, " I don't need no stinking wetsuit". The buddy I was kiting with said he was chilled and had to come in and he had a shorty on. The dude in the trunks had about 30 minutes or less in the water and then hypothermia would come on strong. My point is when you see these dudes, stop them and educate them!

wylieflyote · Wed Jun 08, 16 8:29 am

HA! And my best friend just this week finally put away his dry suit. All Gorge, all Foil.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1471 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2058 Posts PNW Bigfoot

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Just a note to all. If your friend is freezing and getting close to hypo, then give him your board so he can get in quick.

ShiverMeTimbers · Since 26 Feb 2013 381 Posts Gig Harbor Obsessed

Freeride Kiter · Since 08 Jul 2011 698 Posts Alaska / PNW / Baja Instructor

Many years of service as a Medic / Rescue and Recovery Diver in the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea. Number one rule when rendering assistance.. Do not become a victim yourself. Do not put you self in a sketchy situation helping others.

My point is if you can help then go for it, but don't put you self in risk doing so.

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed