<< Have you also been successful in teaching people to doing a paddlefloat rescue in surf? One BCU coach I know is so adamantly opposed to the paddlefloat, he refused to acknowledge that using a paddlefloat in surf is even possible. Paddlefloat is worthless except in flat water, he reasoned. >> When I teach the surf zones class I discourage my students from taking anything out in the water with them such as paddlefloats, pumps or even bailing sponges. The purpose of the class is to work on how to successfully negotiate launching and landing through the surf (although a fair amount of actual surfing also usually takes place toward the end of the class, which is ok by me as it instills reflexive skills, not to mention it's a whole lot of fun). If they took such equipment out in the surf with them, the odds are it would probably just get lost. I also discourage assisted rescues in the surf zone. The instructors will occasionally perform them, because we know what we're doing. However, the students are free to attempt solo rescues if they are of a mind to. So in answer to your question, no, I have not ever attempted to teach the paddlefloat rescue in the surf. Frankly, while I think the paddlefloat rescue is a fine technique (and I do teach it also), I do not consider the paddlefloat rescue to be practical in the surf zone. It just requires too much time to deploy, and the paddlefloat itself could prove to be a hazard in the waves. While I'm sure it can be done, there are too many other better alternatives for surf zone rescue, including simply swimming your boat into shore. Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Sep 09 2000 - 13:56:25 PDT
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