http://www.king5.com/localnews/storydetail.html?StoryID=11744 is a short piece with a video on the LaPush Surf Frolic. I wasn't there this year but attended the first eight in a row beginning some time in the 80's. This is an event that I have always expected that someone may eventually die. First beach can be treacherous because as well as big breakers (and at times a vicious shore break) there often is also a strong river driven current circulating around it. Flotsam (including out of kayak paddlers) often drifts north towards the jetty at a good walking speed. If a swimmer hasn't made it in to shore by then the current takes them along the jetty out through the bigger breakers that are busting in along the jetty. You don't want to go there and I don't know of anyone who hasn't been dragged out of the water by a friendly kayaker before this happened. The jetty is not the place to try to climb out onto the barnacle covered boulders. I've seen the bloody hands of one person who tried that at the Westport jetty in relatively benign conditions. Needless to say this event just sort of happens every year and nobody sponsors it due to the potential liability. the Coast Guard just a bit up the river often has someone keeping an eye on things (but not officially). While the risks at LaPush were pretty substantial this weekend (or anytime during the Fall, Winter and Spring) it was on our own local lake that a kayaker died paddling at night this weekend. Air temperatures were below freezing Saturday night and Lake Union's water temperature is probably in the mid 40's now. http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?s lug=dige07m&date=20010107&query=kayak and http://www.king5.com/localnews/storydetail.html?StoryID=11715 are about that death on the lake where my shop is located. More paddlers (and certainly the most first time and novice paddlers) have probably paddled on this lake than at any other location in the world but this is the first kayaking death I have heard about happening here. I don't know any details beyond what is in the articles at this time. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/8/01 5:05:03 AM, mkayaks_at_oz.net writes: << http://www.king5.com/localnews/storydetail.html?StoryID=11744 is a short piece with a video on the LaPush Surf Frolic. >> The pictures look like at least 2 of the paddlers are using Greenland paddles. I keep running into people who can't believe they work on flat water. They should see this! Joan Spinner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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