Insurance agents in the Midwest have been stymied in their attempts to find appropriate coverage for a business venture involving the region’s most colorful sport.
“Skarping” is a peculiar pastime in which participants hop on a wakeboard or pair of skis, pull out a fishing net and attempt to catch Asian carp with a net as they jump out of the infested Illinois River. The participant then tosses their catch into a floating basketball hoop (which is also attached to the boat on a tube).
The fish, whose heads are made of pure bone, can hurt if they jump into you so participants wear helmets and padded lifejackets for protection.
Skarping got its start when Peoria, Illinois resident Nathan Wallick got tired of dodging the invading fish while skiing and decided to “make them pay.” He says the best time for skarping is between June and mid-October, especially in warm and shallow water, in which the fish are especially prone to jumping.
Wallick initially took his friends out to enjoy the bizarre new sport, but started bringing customers along for $140 per hour per group.
That all stopped when his insurance agent was unable to find an insurance carrier willing to take on the liability associated with skarping.
Ozy.com, which first reported on the skarping phenomenon, said the application was rejected for “obvious reasons.”
In any case, insurance agents in the Midwest serving clients with a penchant for skarping should make sure they have good health insurance.
You can check out skarping here:
https://youtu.be/uqykDINEcGo.
