[Paddlewise] beginners

> scott,
>
> read your post re a trip with dwayne strosaker and the newbies.
>
> my overwhelming reaction to your post is, why paddle with the
> "excruciatingly slow" newbies if you hate it (it being their low skill
> level) so much?
>
> i am (like) one of those people....everyone has to start somewhere.  when
i
> get good at kayaking, though, maybe in a year or so, i hope i don't have
> contempt for people who go slow, who don't have much of a clue, or who
have
> few skills.  i hope i will encourage them and respect their willingness to
> learn and their courage to look like an idiot until they get it right.
>
> so don't come paddle up here with me, ok?  you'll hate it!

> kcd

Kathleen,

I think I'm in a very strong position to respond to your post. I belong to
the paddling club that both Scott and Duane belong to, I was on the paddle
in question, I'm a strong intermediate paddler who has also done some
channel crossings out here (our most challenging kayaking). In addition, I
was the first person to capsize on the launch.

That being said, it is important to know that all of our club trips are not
guided or lead--we have "hosts". Each paddler is responsible for their own
safety and determination of appropriate skill levels. All trips are rated
for either beginner, intermediate, or advanced paddlers. I consider both
Duane and Scott Advanced paddlers and although some people have tried to
include me in that category, I can still learn a lot from both of these
gentlemen.

The purpose of this trip was not a teaching or guided expedition. It was
strictly a social paddle. The expected conditions were stated in the
original invite "intermediate skills with open ocean experience" Surf launch
and landing were also to be expected.

As far as laughing at those who capsized---that's normal. I almost never
capsize on launches, but my surf landings have earned me the nickname of
"the holy roller" The big joke on the trips that I have organized and hosted
is whether or not Steve will make it back onto the beach as dry as when he
launched.

I was one of the first to launch because I thought it would help those who
did not have surf experience, see that it was "easy". As sometimes happens,
I timed things wrong, got slammed in the chest by a larger than normal wave
which totally stopped my forward motion and had me surfing backwards. The
2nd wave that then slammed me, did me in.

I did what most of us do when that happens--I picked up my boat, my battered
ego, fortunately my sense of humor stayed with me, and I got back in the
boat and launched. My normal paddling partner was trying to launch at the
exact same time that I was and also got hit by the same wave and capsized.

Out here we laugh about these things. As Duane said, Swimming in the surf is
a fact of life in So Calif.

There were people on this trip who had no business being on an intermediate
paddle. We had one couple in a tandem SOT that could not keep up with any of
the single SOT's. That's paddling too slow. I'm normally a slow paddler by
choice but when on a group paddle, it's necessary for the faster paddlers to
slow down and the slower paddlers push a little harder than normal.

I don't think Scott hates newbies--this just wasn't a trip that was geared
to their abilities and that was stated up front.

Steve

> ps   if i found an instructor or someone else taking bets over whether or
> not i'd be one of the ones to capsize (in surf or not) i'd get my money
> back, and have some sever words for the "instructor"  if it were a paid
> guided paddle.  sorry, i teach professionally, and  to me, that's  (don't
> want to offend you here but i can't help it) bullshit.   i hate belittling
> almost as much as you seem to hate newbies!
>
>
> kathleen comalli dillon~friend, mom, wife, musician, violinist, writer,
> ailurophile extraordinaire


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