I have been very happy to lurk during this discussion of paddle floats and rolling because at some point or another someone says approximately what I would say. Does that make me unoriginal or efficient? However, I have to bite on this mention of the cowboy rescue. IMHO the cowboy rescue is at most a gimic rescue or one to use after you have gone for a swim on purpose on a hot day on flat calm water. The balance required to do it correctly is considerable, and the technique is not intuitive. As an instructor, even if I show it, I make it very clear that it is NOT A RESCUE. A rescue is something that gets you reliably back in your boat. The cowboy rescue is a pool trick. Yes, Yes, I know that a skilled, balanced person can negotiate their way back into their boat in somewhat chaotic seas, but now what? You need two hands to do the cowboy well. Where is the paddle? Attached? In one hand? Now you are back in by the grace of Buddha with no way to stabilize your boat to reattach your skirt. Are you going to find your paddlefloat and attach it while the same rough conditions miraculously wait for you to do so? What a hopeless event. I guess I bit on this one because I have seen over many years of teaching that macho newbies are attracted to the cowboy rescue. Is it the name? Or is it the illusion that it is more "natural" because it does not appear to need a paddle float? Anyway, it is an illusion that must be quickly and fully dispelled. Have fun with it in your pool or pond and that's it. Incredulously I wait for rabid disagreement:-) Brian Windrope Corvallis, Oregon _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Free instant messaging and more at http://messenger.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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