Hi y'all, I just got back from paddling with a visiting buddy from the Big Apple. He's been paddling for about 5 years now. He's a good paddler with nice technique, but he's slow. He seems to only have one speed. I took him around a really bumpy point where the rip produces some pretty impressive waves. At one point, I turned and yelled to him to paddle harder. I was concerned that a big wave might get him in the ole "backsurfing" mode. So, I got ta thinkin', what circumstances would dictate the need for speed (could be read as power) and why? Here's my Top 10 List: 1. Paddling hard against a rip with good sized waves so as not to get backsurfed. 2. Paddling hard against a strong current to make progress. 3. Paddling faster to beat bad weather. 4. Paddling faster to beat darkness. 5. Paddling fast to beat a changing tide which will make paddling much more difficult later if you don't. Or paddling to make it to a beach before the tide exposes the reef. 6. Paddling hard to get out past the impact zone in big surf. 7. Paddling hard to tow a paddler who is sick or incapacitated. 8. Paddling fast to get assistance from the Coastguard or other authorities. 9. Paddling fast to impress the opposite sex. 10. Paddling fast to catch the jet ski that just sprayed you (and then ran out of gas) so you can whack 'em with your carbonfiber paddle! Did I missed any? In all seriousness, I know that not all of us got into the sport to go fast. However, I think that it's important that you can go fast and hard at least for short bursts if you are going to venture out beyond the swimmer's boundary ropes. What do you think? Cheers, Dave Dave Williams paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th http://paddleasia.com Phuket, Thailand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Williams wrote: > Here's my Top 10 List: > 1...10 > Did I missed any? > Many of those don't apply to us Great Lakes paddlers (tide? whazzat?) But: 11. Paddling hard to assist the newbie that still hasn't wet exited. (Or is pounding the hull waiting for an T rescue) Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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