Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the

   We've been through this all before. But what the heck;

 Tomckayak_at_aol.com writes:

<< Very Southern Calf. 
 I think I know why no one signed up for your trip:) >>

   This is precisely the type of response I was anticipating when I wrote, 
"Most sea kayakers cannot reliably roll or perform self rescues. That does 
not mean that those of us who can should be condemned to the constant 
ridicule of our fellow paddlers because we have taken the time to build on 
our skills to the point of being able to rely on them rather then on the 
equipment."

Tomckayak_at_aol.com again:

<> 

   Since you are not taking any chances I must assume that you always wear a 
helmet as well????????????

Outfit3029 writes:

<<If ever I am paddling a backwater creek, get knocked unconscious and thrown 
out of my kayak after being struck by a personal watercraft doing 60mph, I 
will be more than happy to give you proof.>>

   Again, since one never knows when this all too common occurrence might 
happen, I must once again assume that you ALWAYS wear a helmet when 
paddling!!!???

Shoni writes:

<>

   Obviously, for the sake of your family, you ALWAYS wear a helmet when your 
in your kayak. I mean, one can never be too safe. You have to be on the 
constant lookout for those rouge jet skiers, and rocks on the bottom, other 
out of control kayakers in waves and surf, and who knows what else! And of 
course it goes without saying that if you have ever taken any kids along 
kayaking they are ALWAYS wearing helmets as well. It doesn't matter what kind 
of kayaking we are talking about, or where we are paddling, since even in a 
swimming pool it's possible to fall out of the boat and hit your head on the 
side.

   Come on people, grow up! I'm all for safety. I really am! But we each 
accept our own level of risk. Some of us apparently do it better then others. 
If I choose to paddle without a drysuit or a pfd, that's my choice. I 
consider myself to have a fairly high degree of skill, and more importantly, 
good common sense. I have NEVER been in what I would consider a life 
threatening situation, because I avoid them. You have to asses your own 
abilities and make your own decisions accordingly. If you judge yourself by 
what I do then your an idiot! That is not to say that what I do is wrong! I 
know what I'm doing! I grew up on the ocean. I have been teaching kayaking 
for about ten years now. I have been paddling for over thirty years. I 
practice constantly. I try to teach my students to err on the side of 
caution. But one does not have to ALWAYS wear a drysuit/wetsuit/pfd/carry 
flares/carry radio, etc., etc. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, 
the kayakers greatest strength is in one's good judgment and common sense. 
It's NOT the skills or equipment, but what you do with them. 
   If you feel that you always need to wear a drysuit --- then you probably 
do. And if you DO need to always wear a drysuit, then I really hope you 
always will. However, just because YOU need it does not mean that I do. I 
realize there is a fine line here in trying to determine which one's are 
genuine and which one's are accidents looking for a place to happen. I 
certainly agree that we should encourage EVERYONE to wear 
wetsuits/drysuits/pfd's. After all, if you have to ask, then you probably 
aren't skilled enough/experianced enough/smart enough to go without. However, 
I like to think that the people on this list know enough to recognize that 
there are some of us out there who really do know what we are doing, and we 
should not be chastised for it.

Scott
So.Cal.

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