[Paddlewise] Coldwater test/bodyfat/future fitness

This last weekend I took my kayaking class out for their cold water lesson. 
The air temp high was 45, the water was at 40. And the class seemed to be very 
confident. We paddled 20 miles, mostly with the wind, crossing 3 lakes 
following  the Pelican River in MN.

Everything they had been taught was in the classroom, and a heated pool.
As an instructor, we require a supervised cold water trip to pass the class.

The class (having nearly a semester of lessons) picked out their own equipment 
from the lockers, all their safety equip, and selected their favorite boats 
the group largely honed in on the Scimitars, Shadows and Sea Lions. 
The class was to be graded on everything, total preparedness. We graded them 
on what clothing they selected, having heard a few cold water lectures. As 
well as overall paddle technique, use of the safety equipment and 
effectiveness of their self rescues.

The avg. student selected 3mm wetsuits and wore 1mm wetsuit underwear beneath. 
Nylon swimsuits, polypro sweatshirts, synthetic/smartwool Longjohns. Booties 
with wool socks, fleece hats, and most wore drytops. Only 1 student selected a 
drysuit.

At the end of the long paddle, students have to demonstrate their 
self/assisted  rescue skills. They had to show at least two. Both could be 
self, 1 had to involve a wet exit.

The results, advanced students overwhelmingly agreed it was far better to roll 
than to wet exit. An appropriate response.
The weaker students found they were only able to roll in the pool. Giving 
comments like "I was under, setting up for a roll and I thought my head was 
going to explode from the shock".
Only one person did a paddle float rescue (drysuited). He didn't care what the 
weather was like, he was just fine. The rest settled for the "quick and dirty 
T-X rescue/pump/ get me the hell out of the water theory".

I noted an interesting difference between paddler sizes, I believe corelated 
to body fat. Comparably dressed larger "corn fed" males were easier to deal 
with in the water. They clambered back into their boats needing little 
assistance. The smaller, ahem, "petit" females were typically short of breath 
and close to a cold water induced panic. The females in question were arguably 
in "better" shape (track runners) vs the pudgy lineman males. Yet the males 
were calmer, and able to pull off more difficult rescues: Reenter/roll, etc.
 The females did have one advantage, being lighter, I could grab them and help 
pull them across my decking. so they could reenter their boats.

This leads me to question...
This difference directly compares a book I am currently reading: Peary's 
documentary about his trips to the North Pole, written 1890-1905. Peary 
compares body types of the ideal people for this trip. He notes how Eskimos 
are ideally suited for his expeditions, they are very strong and thick with 
body fat.  
In this day of get slim, and stay strong, I wonder are we neglecting our 
bodies need for an appropriate layer of fat? 
Without all of our technical gear, could we survive a freezing cold night 
sitting on the side of the river waiting for help?

Just because we regularly practice cold water safety, can we really survive if 
we need to?

I can only hope that my kayaking class learned the message of how dangerous it 
can be paddling unprepared. They were prepared, and experienced first hand 
coldwater immersion. I know that they will think twice before traveling on 
cold water without the proper gear. After some hot chocolate, ( a thermos in 
every boat) they were back in cheerful spirits.

I hope fellow P'wisers practice their cold water as well.
I plan on asking my doctor about my fitness, suitablility for cold water 
paddling.
If you are an MD, please read on.
Thanks
Phil Huck
huck_at_mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu
thekayaker_at_yahoo.com

I guess the reason I am so concerned about coldwater is that I do live in MN 
as the saying goes the water is either frozen or getting there. I live here, I 
paddle here, I should be prepared for life-here.
I had no problems in the water, should I worry about that little layer of body 
fat? If I lose it will I be noticeably colder? My BMI is a clean 22. The 
charts say that I am at the upper limit of healthy people. 
Pro's and cons of lowering body fat? 
5'8" tall,  31 in. waist, 39 inch chest, 145lbs.


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