John Winters made a pungent statement a day or so ago skewering folks who buy a piece of safety/rescue gear with the expectation that the gear will make it safer for them to tackle more challenging conditions. To wit, John laid this dialog on us (paraphrasing his side): "Are you leery of paddling in dicey conditions WITHOUT a paddle float?" "Yes?" "But you would paddle in those same dicey conditions WITH a paddle float on board?" "Uh huh! Then you are an idiot." John's basic premise is that we should not rely on safety gear to make ourselves think we are safer in conditions which are at or above our skill level. He further claims that acquiring safety gear (and practicing its use) leads paddlers to attempt more demanding conditions, thereby increasing their exposure to risk. He believes that many of us use the gear to develop a false sense of security, and that many of us are deluding ourselves about our ability to use the gear to rescue ourselves. *I think* he believes that we should instead: 1. increase our skill level; 2. increase our ability to judge when conditions are likely to be at or above our skill level; and, 3. stay on the beach when we think conditons are likely to demand our highest skills. John does not like the psychology of relying on self- (or group-) rescues to pull ourselves out of jams. I like the foregoing part of John's analysis. Finally, John believes that a paddler who is forced to use a self rescue has failed miserably in the area of judgement. I do not buy this last part of John's argument. --------------- Here is my psychology behind owning and practicing the use of a paddle float outrigger system (PFORS): I try to avoid conditions which force me to use my limited repertoire of braces. (I do not have a roll, though I hope to develop the ability.) When I get into conditions which demand more than I have in skills, I head for the beach, if possible. Don't need that kind of stuff in my life. If I can't get to the beach in time, I might capsize, and have to attempt reentry and pumpout using the PFORS. There is a slim chance I will be unsuccessful, and a slimmer chance I will die. I accept that minute risk as the price of enjoying paddling in the places I love. It is similar to accepting the small risk that some jerk will T-bone me when I drive to work. I'm not going to invest in a tank to protect myself against that kind of risk. And, I'm not going to quit going to work -- I get a nice reward for accepting the risk of a T-boning. We call it a pay check. OTOH, some nice sunny day when the water is flat, I am going to have a complete brain-cramp, stuff my paddle up a scupper or a companionway in my yak, and I will capsize. I will be able to wet-exit, reenter, pump out, and paddle off, because I have a PFORS, and I can use it reliably in those conditions. That is the main reason I own a PFORS. Owning the PFORS in no way increases my risk. It actually decreases it. It is not a svelte siren leading me off to doom. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dave wrote; (Large SNIP) >Finally, John believes that a paddler who is forced to use a self rescue >has failed miserably in the area of judgement. > >I do not buy this last part of John's argument. I don't buy it either. Some people seek danger or risk and for them pushing the edge of their abilities becomes part of the sport. My argument concerns the larger group of paddlers who labor under the illusion that gear and skills will always save their bacon. I do not include those who court danger in the discussion. On the other hand, if your intention is never to capsize then any capsize become a failure and an error in judgement. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** 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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