Be aware of your surroundings....

[Peter123]

Recently, we lost a member here to a collision with a boat.

This weekend, a wakeboarder I know landed a trick on top of a passing tuber. Three kids were on the tube. One was killed and another was badly injured.

It's easy to get caught up in what we're doing while on the water and lose track of other potential dangers. Please stay extra aware of your surroundings and the other people in other watercraft this summer.

 

[smoofers]

Heard about the wakeboard/tuber accident on the radio this morning. Terrible tragedy.....

I always dread the news about boating tragedies after every big holiday weekend. Be careful out there guys.

 

[b.lee]

....be aware and expect the unexpected.

RIP

 

[The Penguin]

I heard about that accident and hoped you were not involved....glad to know it wasn't you - but I hope your friend is OK.

 

[QuickMick]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7031507.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+houstonchronicle%2Fmetro+(chron.com+-+Houston+%26+Texas)

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7471191

 

[ger87410]

Such a sad story. What a downer for the day.

This is an example of why I don't go to the lake on memorial weekend. U spend all your time watching everyone else and no time having fun.

Anyone else catch the blurb in the second article about 2 jet-skis? Is that incident worth going into details?

 

[smoofers]

I am not going to speculate.....

With that being said, from my extensive lake time - in my experience, wakeboarders and wakeboard boats, generally travel in a straight predictable line.

99% of the boats I have seen pulling tubes, the driver is usually looking back at the tube. They also make violent UNPREDICTABLE turns with no notice or reason.

I have almost been hit by multiple boats pulling tubes. Usually the boat pulling the tube has turned DIRECTLY at me, and the driver is never looking in front of the boat.

Just my 2 cents.

Still a horrible tragedy.

 

[nightrider05]

Definitely stay alert!

At the lake I go to, a kid was riding a 96 xp when he was cut off by a boat. He got thrown off the ski when he had to turn hard and the handlebar went straight into his upper leg tearing it open pretty badly. Apparently he tried getting people to stop and help but nobody he did...he got back on the ski and road back to the dock where he was rushed away in a helicopter. Blood and fat was covering the handlebars.

Be safe out there. I guess coming from a motorcycle background I am always watching out for everyone else so that tends to help alot.

 

[skinnyman]

This is so sad
A bunch of lives have been destroyed because no one was paying attention

 

[ger87410]

With that being said, from my extensive lake time - in my experience, wakeboarders and wakeboard boats, generally travel in a straight predictable line.

Never seen a wakeboarder. Seen a skier and that funny thing you ski on sitting down though and they're all over the place.

99% of the boats I have seen pulling tubes, the driver is usually looking back at the tube. They also make violent UNPREDICTABLE turns with no notice or reason.

x2. Well, 85%.

 

[menatep]

I think the most important thing is to watch out for OTHER people / boats / etc and to never be in their direct path. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Just like when you drive on the road - always pay attention to who might hit you.

 

[Kuchera89]

I am not going to speculate.....

With that being said, from my extensive lake time - in my experience, wakeboarders and wakeboard boats, generally travel in a straight predictable line.

99% of the boats I have seen pulling tubes, the driver is usually looking back at the tube. They also make violent UNPREDICTABLE turns with no notice or reason.

I have almost been hit by multiple boats pulling tubes. Usually the boat pulling the tube has turned DIRECTLY at me, and the driver is never looking in front of the boat.

Just my 2 cents.

Still a horrible tragedy.

i wrote almost the same reply word for word earlier but didnt post it. thats been my experience too, i have no problem giving right of way to a larger boat that is towing, but with tubers its not possible, you have to evade them full throttle to keep from getting hit. and they are always turned around watching the tube, back when we use to wakeboard alot, we would double up and some idiot with a tube would see the large wakes and haul ass at the waves where the boarder was, majority of tubers are pulled by inexperienced operaters with only throwing the tuber on their mind.

sad story, crazy they were close enough for the boarder to hit the other boat...seriously, if the water is ever that packed that you have to be that close, ill go home.