do you wear a vest?

greg van wagnen · Posted: Nov 05, 2003 10:46 pm Post subject:

nope, thats one of the reasons its not aproved, i know iv had approved vests on before and it didnt really make me go heads up either though Rolling Eyes

wakesk8r9610 · Backside 180 Joined: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 1267

i like my oneill throttle it flexes alot like a non cgap

Frye · Guest Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 3335

i always where a vest. but i dont think i would if the water is shallow. never have tried tho. i wear helmets on rails but not kickers but only kuz one time i had a really bad accident on the rail Embarassed

haha

Yuri · Raley Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 1977 City: orlando

Dave Barousse, then you must hate to see Sfumato or the Cassette team ride because in Sfumato they barely wear vests and on pics and stuff they dont wear vest but in comps is the only time i see them wearing vests!!!!

XH2Oskier · Faceplant Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 30 City: Racine

greg van wagnen · Posted: Nov 06, 2003 12:03 pm Post subject:

i think street racing is a little different then riding without a vest. if it is a private lake the person is riding on then the coast guard has no say in what you wear. that is what the non coastguard approved vests are for. they are ment for compatition riding and riding on a private lake only. also what if someone is using the winch in 6" of water in there back yard and they dont have a vest on? there is no law against that is there? im not saying go ride without a vest but please dont try to censor everything in this world. dave is not breaking the law, for all everyone knows the pictures and video of people riding without a vest on could be on private water. and please dont take this offensively becuase it is not ment to be.

Dave Barousse · Faceplant Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 5

This is why I don't make opinionated posts because I can't stand arguing.

XH2Oskier,
I agree with you, but you are comparing apples to oranges. Not wearing a life vest compared to illegal drag racing is two completely different things. In some states, it is legal to not wear a vest, such as the state that I am from. If someone chooses not to wear a vest, they are not doing anything wrong except being a damn fool, in my opinion.

Read my posts again if you think I'm saying two different things. I don't like to see it, I don't do it and I really don't care for it, but I feel that others can make decisions for themselves that make them happy. Let me give you another example. I'm not interested in doing inverts on my wakeskate, but yes I would post pictures and videos of someone else doing it. Even if I think inverts are the stupidest thing ever on a wakeskate, I would still post it because it is interesting to read about and watch.

As far as people suing me because someone drowned from not wearing a vest......

If that is the case, then I better shut this site down NOW! What if someone drowned from wakeskating with a vest on? What if a kid tried a kickflip and broke his leg? What if someone got run over by a Malibu? Am I supposed to take responsibility for everything that happens on the water that has something related to my website? I don't' think so. If someone wants to be like Greg Van Wagnen and Thomas Horrell and not wear a life vest, then that is Greg Van Wagnen's and Thomas Horrell's fault, not Wakeskating.com's. What if someone drops a wakeskate on their foot, am I responsible?

XH2Oskier · Faceplant Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 30 City: Racine

I'm very aware of the variety of laws in different jurisdictions, but there is no distinction made in the videos or images hosted on this site. Dave's negative comment on the Sfumato review only further clouds his stance on this issue. If you are opposed to people going without lifejackets, why not make a point of mentioning it every time you host pictures or videos of people going without?

You and I both know it's not your fault if some kid cracks his head open trying to duplicate something he saw on this site, but that may not stop the kind of irate parents that sue rock bands over the lyrics their kids were listening to right before they pulled the trigger.

I don't think Dave is breaking the law and I'm not trying to censor anyone. It's his site to do with what he wants and if he wants to promote wakeskating without a vest, he is certainly able to do that. I'm just trying to understand how Dave can lose a good friend because he wasn't wearing a vest and say it's the stupidest thing you could possibly do, yet turn around and promote wakeskating without a vest on his site. That is exactly what you are doing when the first thing you see at wakeskating.com is a still image of Greg without a vest.

You are right Dave, your life would have been a little easier if you never took a position on this subject, but don't think of it as an argument. Think of it as a clarification of your position on an important issue that could influence the decisions made by the countless people that visit your site.

funnyfeni · Posted: Nov 06, 2003 2:48 pm Post subject:

im so feeling you dave.

xboard32x · Posted: Nov 06, 2003 3:04 pm Post subject:

wow those were big words that i cant spell. Both very true.

stussy · Backside 180 Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 706

daves such a father figure, always looking out for us

Aidan · Ollie Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 78 City: Singapore

I always wear my vest behind the boat and when hitting rails/ramps at the park, but I usually take it off at the cable when I'm just taking it easy towards the end of the day.
I agree with Dave that you don't have to risk your life to be cool, however I only ride without it to feel a little freedom, and when I'm not attempting anything risky...