Beginning next year, a daredevil boating move will be outlawed in Oregon.

Teak surfing – also called platform dragging – is a maneuver during which a passenger first hangs onto the rear of a motor boat, then lets go and attempts to body surf in the boat’s wake.

The 2005 state Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 56, which prohibits teak surfing on state waters.

The swimmer’s proximity to boat propellers and exposure to carbon monoxide emissions from the motor are two primary dangers associated with the sport, according to the Oregon State Marine Board.

The board estimates that a person teak surfing for one minute could be exposed to 990 parts per million of carbon monoxide. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to more than 87 parts per million of carbon dioxide during a 15-minute period is considered dangerous.

Starting in 2006, anyone operating a motor boat with a passenger holding onto the transom may be fined up to $360.

For more information on the dangers of teak surfing, visit www.boatoregon.com.