Comp vest Vs. CGA vest

[obirah]

Hello everyone,

I guess this topic is discussed lots of times, but I wasn't able to find the right answer for me here with the search option.

I just bought my first wakeboard and hope that I picked up a nice set up for a beginner with the LF Trip 138 and the Index bindings.

I also got the LF Cardigan Pullover comp vest and didn't think of the fact that this is actually not a real swimming vest, but the online store I got the stuff has only comp vests.
The question I am asking myself is if it's a good idea to start as a beginner without a CGA vest! I will ride on a cable in Germany and don't want to go too deep into learning tricks as I have lots of injuries from snowboarding and need my legs and arms for my job
I can swim good, but... as I said - what do you think? If I just ride for fun without trying crazy stuff, can I use the vest I just got or should it be "safety first"?

Thanks a lot in advance! The stuff just arrived and I am just a bit nervous if I made the right choice

See ya!

The equipment:

http://www.liquidforce.com/boards_trip.htm
http://www.liquidforce.com/bindings_index.htm
http://www.liquidforce.com/vests_cardigan.htm

[DRAGON88]

obirah, Wait and see if it will float you. IE get in the water and completely exhale and see if your mouth is still above the water. None of the pullover vests can be CGA, because they don't have buckles, which is a requirement for CGA approval.

Being a good swimmer doesn't have much to do with the situation, because if you get knocked out, you ain't going to be swimming...

But usually when someone is learning to ride, I would recommend a CGA vest... But it's really all a judgment/comfort thing, if that vest float you, then theoretically you should be fine.

[Medina]

I Started as a beginner, and i never weared a CGA vest. Knock out occurs more to pro's then to beginners.

edit: wait you ALWAYS start as beginner

[obirah]

Thank you guys, sounds reasonable to me I will try this with the exhale and then I will look further. Funny thing is that here in the german online shops I can't find many if any CGA vests