Re: [Paddlewise] Fwd: Near Miss Report 1997

> From: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com

> > On Wed, Feb 18, 1998 at 02:22:33AM -0700, Philip Wylie wrote:
> > > Pardon my ignorance but would you not class white water kayakingas an extreme
> > > sport the same as sky-diving and would this not
> > > leave sea kayaking in the category of "recreation" (although recognizing
> > > some of the extreme circumstances which can occur on the ocean).
> 
> Rich Kulawiec wrote:
> > 
> > No, whitewater kayaking is not an extreme sport; it's a recreational
> > the sport in the same way that sea kayaking, mountain biking, skiing,
> > and other outdoor sports are.  Extreme whitewater kayaking, like
> > extreme skiing, extreme mountain biking, etc., is an extreme sport.
> > 
> > I hope that doesn't sound like nitpicking, for there's actually an
> > important point in there: the overwhelming majority of whitewater
> > paddlers do not run the class V stuff that you see on the cover
> > of American Whitewater every month.  Most whitewater paddlers are quite
> > conservative (and I include myself in that) and stay well within
> > their limits -- they consider it recreation, as do I, and getting
> > hurt or killed while doing it isn't particularly appealing. ;-)
> 
> I was asked my view on this and I would agree with Rich wholeheartedly: 
> whitewater is not an extreme sport unless done in extreme conditions
> such as those that Rich and I point out, i.e. top-flight experts seeking
> extreme challenges in Class V and up stuff where a mishap is likely to
> be deadly.  Sea kayaking doesn't have an equivalent yet but I do know of
> seakayakers who seek out paddling in the advance of hurricanes or who
> enjoy getting real close to passing ships to ride their wakes.  These
> fellows may be getting close to the edge of what the highly skilled
> extreme whitewater paddlers do.
> 
> ralph diaz


I would say that the Tsunami Rangers fall into the category of extreme
sea kayaking.  Possibly some kayak surfers.  I think this is the point
that Rich is making about not all river paddling is class V.  I think you
would find significantly more class I-III river paddlers than hairboaters
as you find significantly fewer "hair boaters" in sea kayaking.  I wouldn't 
exclude kayak surfing or the Tsunami Rangers as that would be like 
excluding the hair boaters in ww.  They are sometimes the extreme side 
of sea kayaking.  What's interesting is that none of the Rangers has died 
in their extreme end of the sport.  Not yet, anyhow.  Besides a heavy
slant on safety, they also wear a lot of armor :-)

Cheers,

Jackie

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