This is not exactly wakeboarding related, but is watersports related. It goes to show what happens if you don't wear a vest. <BR><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-patriots-hillsearch&amp;prov=ap&amp;type=lgns" target="_blank">http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-patriots-hillsearch&amp;prov=ap&amp;type=lgns</a>

Even a non CGA vest is better than going with nothing.

dude, common sense !!!!!!!!! People who fail to use common sense are darwin'd out LOL

I wonder if he could even swim? How do you not gear up for a ride on a PWC, on a holiday weekend no doubt? Sad...

Thats sad! there was a death due to a PWC accident this weekend on lake Degray as well

Friends said he was a good swimmmer, this is sad.

Conspiracy!!

I broke my nose on a PWC this weekend..gotta have surgery. It knocked me out cold, leaving me face down in the water (Yes had a USCGA vest on), but luckly I had a friend with me that drug me back onto the JetSkit flipping me over so I could breath again.

A loss of life was caused by a moment of stupidity. JetSki'ing in a shipping lane wasn't the smartest thing but not having a lifejacket on was this persons downfall. My condolences to his family but we should all wake up and now that we need to wear our PFD's.

Shasta Lake in nor-cal had a PWC death memorial weekend also. An 18 yr. old kid, for unknown reasons rode in front of a skiboat. A completely sober 30 yr. old man, his family and friends have to live with that. *unfortunate*

last year mamorial day weekend, was cruising back to camp around sunset, maybee doing 25 mph. was about 500 yards from the no wake zone at nacimiento i look to my 9 oclock port side and some kid on a wave runner is about to t-bone me at full throttle when he spins a hard 180 off my port side about 10 ft from me and completely swamped my little closed bow nautique. this kid was "stupid." life jacket un-zipped, goes rippen into the marina crashes the wave runner into the rental dock as the shariff is standing there and grabs him. well im beyond pist and let me add, sober! so i cruise into the dock were the shariff and now the kids dad is screaming at him. this kid was like 16. the shariff basically said this and that to me about pressing charges, i look at the kid look at the dad and just said to my self when this kids dad is done with him i think he will have learned his leson. so i let it go and so did the shariff. but ill tell you he probibly would have had some serious penalties coming but i figured this would be this kids lucky eye opener, i hope. play safe everone. and lets all live to ride tomarrow

I dont understand why people keep going into the water without a vest...is it because its not confortable or not cool...i just dont know

personally, i think wearing a life vest is comfortable. i dont think theres any reason at all to not wear one, or even to keep it unzipped.

I agree with jeff. I like wearing a jacket because it takes some of the shock out of the falls on both a wakeboard and a jetski.

I know people that knew him personally. <BR>Doesn't say much for my Alma Mater.

If you wear a vest everytime it feels wierd not to wear one.

did someone really LOL at this guy dying? Wow, that's pathetic. <BR> <BR>the guy obviously didn't demonstrate common sense, and he paid for it with his life. It's sad and unfortunate, definitely not funny.

I didn't even notice that. Poor form Rick

Darwin awards are awards given out for some of the stupid moves people do. Some of them are extremely funny while others a just down right head itching on why they would do that. My guess would be that he is saying that this should be a Darwin award candidate and not towards an LOL and a death. IMHO

So is this just Karma for screwing a female companion while your fiance waits on shore, we'll wait for the autopsy, jet ski's are for wakeskating and sliders. <-- That means PERIOD