U.S legislation that would require kayaking schools to increase their training for beginners has passed the House.

Under the new law, schools would have to teach new kayakers how to exit from an overturned kayak before heading into open water. The rule would apply only to kayaks equipped with spray skirts, and stems from the death of novice kayaker Robert Beauvais in 2001.

Judging by the comments below the article, most readers think the kayak safety bill is unnecessary, and a waste of time that could have been spent on more pressing issues.

What do you think? Is this a case of micro-management, a refusal to acknowledge that sometimes, accidents happen? Or is it just good sense?

Community Connection:

Several community members have extensive whitewater experience, including Matador member Porter, and our own Matador Travel editor, David Miller.

Interested in hitting the waves yourself? Try one of our Top 10 French Schools for Waves, Wilderness and Bons Temps, or check out the Green Guides to Ottawa and Atlanta, both good spots to try the sport out.

My own hometown of Ottawa is a bit of a whitewater hotspot. Here’s a quick clip of the Ottawa River’s infamous Bus Eater:

Eva Holland

Eva Holland is co-editor of Matador Pulse and a regular contributor to the Matador Network. She's also a contributing editor at World Hum. Eva recently quit her day job and gave notice on her apartment, and is currently bouncing around Eastern Ontario, Quebec and upstate New York.