[Paddlewise] Eco Challenge - some answers

Jackie asked about qualifications for the event.

This organizer (Mark Burnett) tries harder than anyone else in the
world to have suitably qualified teams involved.  By contrast, some of
the more 'salt-of-the-earth' competitions (which are often more
'interesting' than the made-for-tv ones) require nothing - just expect
that if you don't know what you're doing, you won't be foolish enough
to start. 

After the debacle in the 1996 Eco-Challenge (British Columbia), when 4
teams completed the entire course and another 10 a somewhat shortened
version (out of 72 starters !!!), Eco-Challenge switched from "entry
fee" to "invitation".  This allowed them to vet teams more carefully
and select those who have the relevant experience.  However, as is
often the case, the promise of some human interest TV resulted in less
stringent requirements for some entries.

NEVERTHELESS, once ACCEPTED, everyone was expected to learn what they
didn't know.  Eco-Challenge issues a continuous barrage of
requirements and warnings.  To go to the start line, you were expected
to heed what was in these bulletins and prepare accordingly.  Since
the missives began arriving almost a year before the event, there is
PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY to learn at least the fundamentals and NO EXCUSE
for not doing so.

FURTHERMORE, there were tests before the race (and in some cases
written certification required).  Generally these tests were performed
by local outfitters, riggers, horseowners etc - the people who would
ultimately be responsible for dealing with safety situations that
arose.  And they tended to be picky (as rightly they should be).

Clearly, no one will become an expert in every discipline in a year,
if they start with little or no experience.  Nevertheless, this race
organizer strikes a reasonable balance between vetting what people
know and telling them what they ought to know.  Ultimately, it's an
individual's decision (or a team's) as to whether they're fit to do
something; all the organizer can do is highlight the difficulties.

In last night's showing, you saw several teams elect not to "rap" over
a waterfall in the dark and some proceeded.  Those who did then faced
a whitewater swim in the dark - considerably more daunting than the
"rap" under those circumstances.  But reasonable judgements were being
made and there was plenty of support available for those who got into
difficulty.

Mark Burnett and the producers at Discovery spend more on safety
precautions than most races have for their entire race budget.  The
challenge I and others face as we try to help organizers host more
races all around the world is to find means of matching skills to
dangers appropriately.  Not everyone can hope to have the kind of
money Discovery is willing to pay for safety coverage and yet our new
Adventure Racing Association is keen to see more events staged *and*
there is a hunger out there for more events for participants.

As you can imagine, I've watched with fervent interest the heated
discussions on judgement, safety, risks and certification on this and
other forums (wish you would allow me to say 'fora').  And I've
learned much from both the reasoned voices and the shrill. 

Cheers

RN (captain, Team Eco-Internet)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Nagle					 http://yuri.harvard.edu/~nagle

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************