Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle floats

Richard wrote;

(SNIP)

I don't know about this attitude.  The open sea is always capable of
producing a wave that can dump you without warning, learning to
roll is simply an adaptation to allow the paddler to recover
afterwards.

Absolutely. Does not paddling in the open ocean constitute increased risk?
If so, would you paddle in the open ocean without knowing how to roll?


> "I use all this gear and learn all these skills so I can paddle in
> conditions where I might have to use them but no, I would never take any
> additional risks just because I had a piece of gear or a skill."

Interesting comment. You learn the skills and carry the gear so you can
paddle in conditions that pose more risk that you would paddle in otherwise
and yet you do not perceive this as added risk.

(SNIP)


So yes, I learn to roll so that I can paddle in places which might
require me to roll.   I would also not likely take any ADDITIONAL
risk just because I have a skill or piece of gear.   It just happens
that my base level of risk includes situations where a large wave
could come out of nowhere and dump me upside down.  I would
just prefer to have the option of counting to 30 and then rolling up.

I guess I don't get the point here. Would you paddle in those conditions if
you could not roll? If not, does not your ability to roll make it possible
to to paddle at your base level of risk. In other words, is not your base
level of risk contingent upon being able to roll?

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/









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