Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaking safety

From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_gsp.org>
Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 08:20:57 -0400
On Sun, May 17, 1998 at 10:03:04AM -0500, Robert C. Perkins wrote:
>     We've had lots of discussion about safety, but I keep thinking about
> the question that John Winters raised some months ago.  Paraphrasing
> roughly, does having gear and training lead kayakers to take risks that
> they would otherwise avoid.

Let me rephrase this to answer it.

Do kayakers take risks?  Yes.

Do they do it because of gear and training?  No.

At least among the whitewater community, I don't see any indication
that increased training leads to increased risk-taking.  In fact,
I see the opposite: for example, people who learn how to roll and
practice it frequently (in flatwater/whitewater) become keenly aware
of just how hard it can be to do under adverse conditions and then
strive to avoid putting themselves into those conditions.


---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
rsk_at_gsp.org
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Received on Tue May 19 1998 - 05:20:58 PDT

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