Sharing the waves with tubers - a reminder.

[tomOzarkVideo]

Memorial day weekend has brought an amazing amount of tubers to the Ford. Saturday, we had 4 or 5 kayakers sharing the features with around 100 tubers and dozens of picnics/onlookers. The boaters all waited patiently in the eddy while 20 or so tubers dropped through the wave in a row. Smiles, whoops, hollers and cheers were had all around. It was a harmonious site to behold. The tubers were mostly respectful of surfers and would wait at the top for a good ride to finish before bombing the drop.

This harmony is very important... Especially during the park's first season. Please be patient with the tubers and swimmers. They do not have the knowledge of river etiquette that we, as paddlers are supposed to have. Upstream craft always have the right of way. You may have to hop off of the wave in the middle of a good ride… It's all good It can seem like you're waiting forever to get a surf at times. But, even when it's packed, they seem to come in waves instead of a steady stream. On the bright side, there is plenty of eye-candy for anyone (M or F) to look at while waiting.

Fiberglass paddles can be very painful to the face too… Boatball teaches us that.

I know that for most of us, this all goes without saying. I just want to be sure that we all realize that we are ambassadors of our sport. Let's show people that we are a friendly bunch.

Now, GET OUT THERE AND TEAR IT UP!!!

[magicmike]

Well said brother. The Siloam Springs Whitewater Recreation Park is a great place for everyone! Besides, because of our gear, it's pretty much all ours 8 or 9 months of the year. A lot of us started as tubers and goobers. The more the" non-paddlers" see us having fun and being polite, the more they might want to be a part of the paddling community. -M-

[tomOzarkVideo]

Right on, Mike!

[arkansas-santa1]

Good one Buddy!!! Some of us were more "goobers" than tubers.
Funny when I left there was only 2 boaters , of course I was in the water by 7 and off by 10. Great place I'm so happy all folks are having fun.
While I was there the local police came out to set and watch. I enjoyed talking to them.

[arkansas-santa1]

Good one Buddy!!! Some of us were more "goobers" than tubers.
Funny when I left there was only 2 boaters , of course I was in the water by 7 and off by 10. Great place I'm so happy all folks are having fun.
While I was there the local police came out to set and watch. I enjoyed talking to them.

[Barry Thomas]

I have been very impressed by the patience and courtesy of the paddling community at the ford. It has been absolutely packed the past few weekends, mostly with novices and tubers. Everyone has been excellent ambassadors of our sport. It is a great park and there is certainly room for everyone.

[magicmike]

After being at the ford today. ..I TAKE IT ALL BACK! !! I'm now proposing the ACC sponsor BBmachine guns mounted on both sides of the top wave to take out all tubes. Can I get a second? -M-

[magicmike]

Actually, It was so great to see so much local use of this great facility. It's what it's gonna take to keep this thing going for years and years to come. Great carnage at the lower wave! Big fun!-M-

[T Yamashita]

Great thread! Good to know you all are setting some nice guidelines! They will have playoffs to all involved.

Ty

[RobM]

Well said Tom , Jerry & Mike. There was more locals out this weekend than I have seen so fare . Most of them very respectful of all us boaters . All were having a blast & sharing the waves . I seen this first hand by trying to sup & swam time after time with the locals . The only thing I was worried about is around 25 % of them didn't have a pfd on which the waves were mostly friendly yet it's a river . Most of the public out there doesn't have any ideal of hydrology & how that can work against us . It's great to see so many people enjoying the river . Enjoying is my point . I don't want to see peoples good day turn south by losing there tube or whatever flotation they have in there hand , then to find themselves serious trouble . Over all it was. Great weekend at the Ford .

Rob

[Inverted]

As Bernice Jones said, "All are welcome who behave as ladies and gentlemen". It might not be exactly like that, but maybe we can come close in our civility among a diverse group of users.

[LarryT]

We really have to be careful. Two boys swam / walked in front of my kayak as I was exiting the lower wave and I had to roll over to miss them.

Also the lower circulation can be tricky for smaller ones so keep you eye out for them as they can pulled back into the flow.

[fzburk]

A few thoughts on the waterpark.

There should be sufficient signage wherever the people are renting the inner tubes/canoes/kayaks/sit-on-tops/inflatables that directs them to proper 'rules of the road.' That signage, as well as a waiver, would spell everything out. If it is a matter of people bringing their own vessel, or if they are just swimming, the signage needs to be at the entrance of the park.

When I am onsite as a paddler I know it is difficult to educate people that are there for a good time. They don't want to be told what they can and can't do, especially from some weirdo in a funny looking whatchamacallit.

Were I came from, one particular outfitter refused to educate renters. He felt that it would somehow make him liable if they did something wrong. His waiver was for his legal protection, but not to educate the renters. Some of the renters immediately went out and made the location unsafe for themselves and others. I had to rescue a number of them before they hurt themselves.

If a city or county is involved, I believe they should make PFDs mandatory for everyone. This is not a swimming pool, it is moving water that can cause weak swimmers to drown. If one person drowns and the family sues, see how fast the park will be shut down.

From a paddler perspective I know when renters are involved, and those renters do not know proper etiquette, I will be making a number of moves to avoid them, regardless of who is in the right. It decreases my pleasure, but that's the price I pay to be in a public place.

I don't expect the tubers to be aware of their surroundings, they will most likely do something that will endanger themselves, and if I don't pay attention to them, they will endanger me.

The public is a dangerous place. The river is a dangerous place. Uneducated renters/boaters/tubers/yahoos are dangerous. I'll probably wait to go in colder days, middle of the week, or anytime there is a reasonable expectation that there will be minimal yahoos on the water. Those yahoos can be in/on any type of craft.

Just my .02.

Mark

[Hcarr999]

I agree with fzburk!

[LarryT]

Any day below 60 will clear out most of the non-kayakers