Rick Sylvia wrote: > shore, when the water is like glass. And where do you think I'll get an > education so I can join discussions like this with pertinent information and > opinion...... from you guys, the experienced "mentors" (whether you > recognize and accept it, or not) as well as personal experiences. So, what > example do you want to set for the rookies like me? PFD.... or no PFD? It > shouldn't matter that there may be situations when an individual can choose > not to wear one - they still represent paddling to everyone who ever finds > out about your choice. Do we want the image of saftey first, or safety as a > choice? And remember, the average person, regardless of cirumstances at the > time of the choice, will equate PFD with Safety and no PFD with no safety. > It's been drilled into us for years! We don't understand the nuances! > > When and if I get to a level when I can consider myself able to hold my own > in these discussions, I'm still going to wear a PFD in 2 foot water, 10 feet > from shore, when the water is like glass, BECAUSE A ROOKIE MAY BE WATCHING > AND EMULATING MY EXAMPLE!!!!! This is a valid point which probably doesn't apply much to Dave Williams who is off in Thailand where not many rookies are going to be going down to a launch site with a brand new boat from a large outdoor shop and taking his/her cues from what seasoned paddlers are wearing, carrying and doing. Years ago in a local club we started getting into a debate about whether to require wearing PFDs on club trips. Before a blowup developed that eventually split the club and paddlers in two, I was one of the two trip leaders doing most of the club's trips. I wore a PFD, the other one did not. I brought up the point you make above, leading by example, to get the guy to understand how people pick up on what leaders and experts do. He gave his argument about not needing it and being able to whip the PFD on in an instant if trouble hit, etc., and that he would just tell people they need to wear theirs. So I said "Well, how do we explain to newcomers that you are not wearing a PFD but I am?" He thought a minute and said "Oh, tell them you are unsure of your rescue skills and that's why you need to wear a PFD." Forgetting that my rescue skills were nearly the equal of his, imagine what participants on a trip would make of that! I failed to see why I had to throw ashes on my head because he didn't want to wear a PFD. Eventually the sxxt hit the fan locally and the split occured. 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/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 22 2000 - 12:31:25 PDT
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