Profile shots, social posts, and Tinder swipes are all the rage for many people coming off a relationship to test the dating waters again. But as actor Jereme Hall portrays while paddleboarding Georgia’s Lake Oconee, if you’re testing the paddling waters, a lifejacket is far more important than your lats or abs and you’re never too cool to wear a properly fitting PFD.
In the film, Hall — who you might recognize from HBO’s Back to the Frontier reality show — is a freshly divorced dad with all the right attributes for re-entering singlehood in style, including a ripped physique, new tattoos, and a black muscle shirt reading “Divorced Dad Energy.” He then hops on a standup paddleboard and heads out onto the lake, smugly pumping up his pecs while taking selfies.
But when he invariably topples over into the drink — thankfully, this time, in only waist-deep water — he learns the most paramount takeaway is to always wear a properly fitting life jacket when on the water.
More paddling deaths occur every year from people not wearing their lifejackets than from any other cause. In 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 556 recreational boating deaths, including 143 from paddlecraft. Where PFD usage was known, 87% weren’t wearing one, just like Hall.
“Jereme did a wonderful job bringing this character to life,” says videographer and producer Craig Kotilinek, “down to his mannerisms and accent. But the bigger point is always bring your PFD. Having filmed professionally on the water for over 20 years, I recognize how quickly things can go south. A lifejacket is critical for any day out on the water, whether you’re out paddling or just taking a new Tinder profile pic.”
Watch Film Here:
Watch video here: youtube.com/watch?v=2dzacbnfJ6A&feature=youtu.be