KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote: > > Actually, the discussion on rec.boats.paddle.touring began with someone's > claim that all competent trip leaders should know how to roll. A position > which I have been staunchly arguing against. It then degenerated into the > proposition that all competent sea kayakers should know how to roll. Again, I > don't agree. Mr. Bowles, whom I believe is a part of this list also, makes a > valid point when he throws canoeing into the equation. > As I pointed out on the newsgroup, there are various levels of sea > kayaking, each requiring different amounts of skill and equipment. People who > are content exploring calm water on the weekend certainly do not need to know > how to roll. They are still, nevertheless, part of our sea kayaking > community. I also do not believe that people who enjoy well run group trips > need to be up on their solo rescues either. Of course, it wouldn't hurt! But > it's not necessary for either the group, or the group leader to have these > skills. > > Scott I saw Scott's posting to that newsgroup and thought it was quite well-stated. Another thing that Scott elaborated on, but which he doesn't mention here, is an excellent point about leaders. He stressed that the skills that should be looked on for them is not whether they can roll or not but rather that they possess judgment and knowledge to see a group reasonably safely through the waters they are paddling. Whether that individual has two dozen rolling techniques or not makes little difference for the group. He or she certainly should also have a no-nonsense assisted rescue technique which he or she can put into action without hesitation or pondering. The reason I added that last point is that I know of one case years ago here in the harbor on a busy weekend when a double kayak went over. Pleasure crafts were whizzing around and they were in the path of several ferries. The leader came over and started debating with himself and others whether to use X method or Y method and who exactly should do it and from what angle, etc. A silly waste of time was being wasted in figuring out the optimum approach when what should hold, borrowing from Nike ads, "Just Do It!" While he was holding court, a very skilled old-timer solo canoeist just paddled up and did the rescue, no bull shit. best, ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Nov 29 1999 - 06:37:43 PST
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