This article was produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

If you spend much of your free time paddling, you know safety is paramount. When you’re on the water, a few fundamentals apply to every paddler, no matter where you are or how much experience you have.

The best practices are also the most simple: Wear a life jacket, don the proper outerwear for the water temperature, never paddle alone or impaired, and always check the weather forecast before you launch. These safety pillars ensure your paddling experience doesn’t end in frustration, injury, or even tragedy—but many paddlers aren’t aware of them, and that’s a problem.

Click here for official rules. Your contact info must be provided in order to enter the sweepstakes. Please consider all types of paddling in which you participate.

Survey conducted on behalf of the Water Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to paddling and boating safety. WSF receives nonprofit grant funding through the Sport Fish and Restoration Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.



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