At 04:21 AM 1/28/99 -0800, you wrote: >Doug Lloyd wrote: >> >> Michael,and others holding this view: >> >> Kind of harsh, but you do have a point. However, there are a lot of easy >> beginner routes for the non athletic paddlers. Hopefully, these individuals >> will work toward a better level of general fitness as they progress and find >> encouragement and confidence. The context of my original question was that >> of a club situation, where leaders are trying to deal with these issues in a >> fair, sensitive, logical manner. If a person, any person, cannot demonstrate >> the required skills, we now restrict them from the more vigorous paddles, or >> paddles with crossings, etc. In the mean time, some of us need to remain >> committed to working toward a goal that seeks to include everyone in this >> enjoyable activity of kayaking, even if we would rather just stick our heads >> in the berm. > > It strikes me that we have a tendency to think of very large and/or not particularly physically fit people as a whole separate category of paddlers (or perhaps non-paddlers), when in fact they are part of a continuum that includes the people on the Paddlewise list. Sure, I expect the average fitness level of Paddlewise members is probably higher than the average fitness level of the overall North American population, but I'm not ashamed to admit that my personal fitness level is as far below that of a kayak marathoner as the fitness level of those "large ladies" is below mine. I do think it's entirely appropriate for group leaders to sometimes make the hard call that, sorry, this particular individual (at this time) is not suited to this particular trip (or the leader may say it the other way round if that's more palatable). If we're being prudent, we Paddlewisers also exclude ourselves from some trips; it's just that we make these decisions for ourselves rather than having to rely on outside experts. My own fitness level fluctuates, so just cause I did a particular trip one time doesn't mean I'm always ready to do it. Some advantages we do have over otherwise equivalently fit people are greater experience, paddling skills, and judgement. We all started out as kayak beginners, though some of us, being more physically fit to begin with, and perhaps having transferable skills from other activities, progressed more rapidly and further than others. So, yes, there are will be trips that for the moment, or perhaps always, will be out of reach for some people. But perhaps the introduction to an activity will be the spur for some to tap unsuspected athletic potential in themselves. Others may never be capable of or inclined to paddle in anything more difficult than a millpond, but if they are enjoying themselves and not putting themselves or others at risk, that's just fine, and more power to them. Philip T. N49°16' W123°08' "The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of my employer, or indeed, of any sentient being." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jan 28 1999 - 09:32:24 PST
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