foot straps

Something to think about: Last night Israeli K1 paddler flipped and almost died due to entrapment in foot straps.. She was saved but is in critical condition.

www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239...JPArticle%2FShowFull

don't quite understand the cause of this incident as you normally will slip out from the foot strap when capsizing.

It was in a K1, not a surfski, so straps are snug for pulling with leg opposite to side the pushing leg is. Same idea as spinning a bike. Her strap was a bit too snug, maybe caught on booties.

thanks Jim.

Well, the article actually reads "tied" not strapped. Maybe she was experimenting with sculling type shoes in the K1?

she's a rower, not a kayaker.

I just heard she is a rower from Dan Rowing Center (also there are paddlers there). I don't know if their new boats have a velcro foot strap on shoes or the laces-likely laces. She was upside down five-ten minutes, and the latest news is she still hasn't returned to consciousness.

My question now is: How snug should the footstrap be in a surfski. Mine is kept loose fitting, but So far I have not been out in big stuff.

I've never had an issue in my K1 and I keep my footstrap really tight. My foot angle is pointed forward though. I suppose if your foot angle was straight up or angled backwards, a tight strap might be harder to slip your foot out of.