Is the Gulf a safe place to ride?

JGringo

JGringo

When in doubt, Throttle-out.
Location
Lafayette, Louisiana
So... I just took a job offer for a job in Louisiana literally on the Gullf and was wondering if it is safe to ride... I have only ridden inland in Wisconsin, Michigan, and other Midwest freshwater sites so clearly I have no clue what is safe and what isn't. I visited LA for the first time and was informed that people wakeboard and ski behind boats all the time, even though there are 13' gators roaming around... Also, sharks are common (says google) to the Gulf.... Last thing I want is to have my foot messed up because a shark thought I was a fast seal on a cracker...

-Gringo

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OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
There's risk to everything so it's more about the odds than the risk itself. Statistically speaking, more people sustain injuries from cows each year than sharks.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/11-animals-more-likely-to-kill-you-than-sharks.html

We won't ride brackish water out of fear for gators but we ride surf with sharks all the time. One of the last times we rode at Jacksonville, Corey, (LoneOctane) was waving at me about something. We stopped, (in the water), for a breather a few minutes later and he told me that there was a 6ft shark swimming around under us.

We are only aware of one shark attack in our ride area in the last 10 years of riding. A shark grabbed a surfer by the calf but spit him right back out. Surfer walked away with some pretty awesome scars to talk about.
 
R

restosud

JGringo said:
What I really want is to find some local riders! Anyone know a thread for people around Louisiana?
Click to expand...
in new orleans.usually ride in lake ponchartrain and never an issue there and when cold front comes waves are niiiice.
pm me when you get near.
 
D

DEVIN

Location
lafayette
i live in laffy ride in all waters, animals cant get you if you movin fast. also the olny two beaches to ride in LA are holly beach and rulford beach both have water that is muddy from the out flow of the river to the east. never seen any sharck but have spoted and videod 12 foot 2x10 floting the the surf which is hard to see in river brown water, i and a friend of mine have skied it, but i am the only on who hase done it on mltply occasions for years, but its two hours from the city and the only time the surf rolls in is th winter, so i got a wet suit after my first ride. i have never seen anyone else in the surf ecept a few fisherman, hell wildlife though i was crazy to be out the in january but they didnt care because i was been safe helmet and life jacket. one plus though is if you got four wheel rive you can launch any where you want and al the way to the water line.no cart for me
 
JRock637

JRock637

Location
Annapolis, MD
Don't ride ocean alone. Even if it's just the Gulf. At the Nj freeride back in September a friend broke down luckly had lots of riders see him floating helpless while trying to hook up a tow line they had a white shark circling. He was freaking out once he got back to the cove! Also saw in southern Cali a guy went missing and never returned? I don't know that full story but that's awful :-(


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227

227

Its all about the surf!
Location
Oceanside, CA
I've never been to the Gulf or any Alligator infested swaps but I can say with a surety that sharks and Gators don't chase down skis and nab off the riders. That's all Hollywood BS. Actually the skis engine noise scares the hell out of the critters and they scatter like crazy, so even if you stop to float in a shark/gator infested riding area probably the last thing a natural predator is thinking about is lunch. The not riding alone thing is more about how things can go south really quick when stuck out in the ocean in the currents and surf. Currents and waves just have a way of doing the opposite of what usually contributes to your safety, and finding a stranded skier in the Ocean is harder than finding a grain of sand lodged between the grass of a football field. I wouldn't worry about where your riding as much as if you have someone to ride with. Hook up with some locals for your first few rides, they'll show you the ropes and you'll probably make some life long friends.
 
madscientist

madscientist

chilling with these guys.
Location
good old p'cola
sharks don't like our skis and gators would rather run from humans or sun themselves. also not many gator in the winter.. florida has more coastline than any other state other than alaska and less attacks per mile once the active human swimming population is taken into account. the suwannee river has 150# sturgeon that kill boaters every year.
 
Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
If the drive to the ocean doesnt scare you, the sharks shouldnt be a concern.

Never ride alone.

Safety from animals is relative to the spot. I know lake seminole is safe, but lake magorie is not, and theh are similar sizes just 15 miles apart.

I dont much worry about sharks but i did fall off a mile off shore island hopping, had a 100 yard swim to my ski. Nothing happened , but if i have a choice between my rotator cuff and making that swim again, good bye shoulder. Im not letting go.
 
Berky

Berky

Location
Fl
It makes you a better rider with gators, sharks, jelly fish, whales, squid or in 277 (John)s case seals in the water. We surf, swim ,spearfish with sharks and hardly ever have any problems .
 
Jet_jase

Jet_jase

Location
England
If you want safe come and ride in the UK....Apart from the odd turd floating around your good :eek:
 
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