IceBreakers
Paddling on Near-Freezing Water is Extraordinarily Dangerous
These folks have no idea of the huge risk they're taking by paddling with no thermal protection on this guided kayak tour of an Alaskan glacier.
Dangerous Messages: Here's a noteworthy video by Great Getaways TV promoting winter paddling on the AuSable River in Michigan. Note the unzipped life jackets and total lack of thermal protection. The narrator doesn't have a clue about cold water safety and his dangerous "recommendations" for paddling on a trip like this are typical of many unaware paddlers. This is precisely the kind of outing that gets people killed.
Here's a quote from the video description:
"We advise recreational kayakers that if you would like to try some winter kayaking to get ready for chill paddling by getting: a spray skirt, a change of clothes and a paddling partner."
Here's another video: Two people, dressed like they were going on a winter hike or ski trip rather than paddling on ice-cold water, head out on the Eklutna Tailrace about 25 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. One is wearing an manually inflatable PFD - a very bad choice for this outing. Note that it's easy to find such videos on the internet.
Another example, that we posted on February 11, 2026 on our Facebook page features another wildly unsafe activity that seems to be part of a growing trend - winter wonderland rafting trips. Two companies running these trips were brought to our attention: Pine River Paddlesports Center in Wellston, MI, and Jordan Valley Outfitters in East Jordan, MI.
Immersion would be immediately life-threatening
Irresponsible outfitters take novices on glacier kayak outings with no thermal protection, while clueless newbies are lured onto ice-cold water by Facebook and other social media posts that encourage unprotected winter paddling.
Every single time, it's an invitation to disaster. All it takes is a little slip of the paddle and an unintended capsize to set the stage for another tragedy.
No Thermal Protection
No Thermal Protection
Here's a great example. No thermal protection, and a waist-mounted, manually-inflatable PFD, worn backwards with the pull tab hanging where it will be most difficult to reach. In the event that he falls off his board, he will likely drown before he can even think about inflating it.
Children canoeing on icy water. If they capsized, they'd be very lucky to survive. Related Incident
Here's another classic example. YouTube video. Banff, Canada in Springtime. Paddling a canoe, with a dog onboard, on ice-filled water. No thermal protection, just a T-Shirt. What could possibly go wrong? 1) Capsize, head goes under water, she gasps and drowns instantly. 2) Even if she surfaces without inhaling water, there's no way she's going to be able to swim to shore before her arms give out - even with that PFD. This is an exceptionally dangerous environment, no matter how inviting, exciting, or "otherworldly" it looks.
Paddleboarders Ignoring Cold Water Safety.
Many don't even wear PFDs. They would be lucky to survive a capsize under these conditions.
Inflatable PFD pull-tab in hard-to-reach position
Irresponsible Facebook Group Image
This is the home page of a Facebook group that targets newbie SUP paddlers. The paddler is solo on lethal 32F (0C) water. No newbie paddler should be doing this. It's an advanced trip that requires specialized gear and advanced rescue skills.
Reckless Rec-Boating
Kayakers in recreational boats like the ones below aren't much better. It's particularly irresponsible for manufacturers to feature this kind of behavior in advertisements and also irresponsible for Facebook group Admins to permit posts like this.
Trifecta of Trouble
This Facebook post is as bad and irresponsible as it gets: Booze, no PFDs, and no thermal protection.
Wildly Irresponsible Ad Undermines Cold Water Safety
Unlikely to inflate the PFD before she drowns
ADVANCED ELEMENTS IRRESPONSIBLE ADVERTISEMENT
Ice-cold water, no PFD, no thermal protection.
Oru Kayak's Irresponsible Advertising
For more information: See our six-minute video Oru Kayak's Reckless and Irresponsible Advertising.
Dressed in street clothes.
No PFD / No Protection
No Protection / Snow / Hiking Boots
No PFD / No Thermal Protection
No Protection / Ice-Cold Water
Paddling alone on Ice-Cold Water
Bottom Line:
At a bare minimum, for-profit companies that make money selling or renting paddling gear - or taking people on "tours" - have a responsibility to promote safe paddling rather than undermining it with ads, photos, and videos like the ones shown on this page.