Duane said in reply to Arthur:: > I have the same concerns as you do. In fact, some NPS rangers called me > after I sent them the float plan for my latest crossings to the Channel > Islands in September. They were concerned about the danger of my trip. They > seemed to have difficulty understanding the difference between what a skilled > sea kayaker can do versus an average one. I was worried they were going to > try to stop my trip. Needless to say, I am back safely and without rescue > (sorry, Doug). To maintain a good relationship with the rangers, I mailed > them a thank you letter, my second one in as many years. > Duane, As I mentioned once before, I decided not to go to a search and rescue conference here in Victoria recently, but rather went paddling with Natalie. My friend did attend, and had to as he was speaking for the kayaking community and penciled in to speak. As he got up to speak, he was introduced by the host, who was holding a recent article about the two university students who died in the San Juan Islands - and asked to _explain that_. What an intro. He went on to present the recreational side and the professional side of the sea kayaking issues we have with the Coasties. He finished off with a presentation on "Risk and Reward" Apparently, there were many yawns and looks of consternation at that point. He then sat down a bit dejected. The next speaker got up. He was the last. It turned out to be a professor from Simon Fraser University (a think-tank of leading -edge policy influencers) who gave a presentation on...da da da duuuu...Risk and Reward. Oh yeah! It dovetailed completely with what my friend presented (obviously). Many of the CG staff came up after, and talked to my friend further and enthusastically now,about the issues. He felt much better about the presentation. Essentially, the rescue authorities need to understand and recognize that sea kayakers, dingy races, multi-hull racers, and board surfers, etc, find reward from taking risks. Mariners in distress are not necessarily victims of weather circumstance who got caught unawares by mother nature, but rather individuals who are targeting certain levels of risk (yet obviously messed up somewhere). The CG need to realize this, plan for it, and support and encourage organizations that promote skills development for the particular water sport being pursued. They also need to recognize that not everybody out there in rough conditions is an idiot, but may well be a properly trained individual(s) challenging conditions for its own intrinsic value. Folks attempting crossing are doing more that performing a stunt. I could go on, but this may be a topic causing some yawning from another audience. BC' in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Oct 19 2000 - 23:21:23 PDT
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