>I'm hoping to read about your in-laws in Sea Kayaker Magazine. >These kind of people make great Rescue, disaster stories, tell >them to keep up the good work, these are the kind of people the >coast guard lives for........ -SNIP- I would prefer not to read "rescue"- stories of ANY kind in Sea Kayaker or Deep Trouble if that would mean there were no such stories to tell. That is of course an illusion, people will always get into trouble and need to be rescued or in the worst case their bodies recovered. Be it by bad luck, shit happens, rapid unpredicted unexpected change of weather or sea condition, stupidity and ignorance, or any combination of those. I prefer reading and LEARNING from the first two categories, since from the third kind of victims/story one can hardly take any take home message other than to wear a pfd, suitable clothing, carry the appropriate equipment, and stay within your limits -thats were categories. These statements are already backed up by to many cases of category 3 victims -mostly dead ones. The coast guard and other rescuers wouldn't be sad if they can stay in their station for a boring day of TV instead of picking dead or nearly dead kayakers and other pleasure boaters out of the water. I know, at least I hope I got you right, that you wrote your message with a "tongue in the check" or sarcastic intention, but anyway I think this issue is to serious for just kidding around. Cheers Ulli P.S. I read some of the Sea Kayaker articles and Deep Trouble and hope that I learned from other people mishaps to keep myself out of similar situations. At least they motivated me to work on my paddling skills and rescue techniques. Thanks to the people who took the unpleasant task to dive in and write up this kind of stories. (All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words.) Ulli Hoeger Dept. Physiology and Biophysics Dalhousie University Halifax, B3H4H7, Nova Scotia Canada Phone I : 902-494-2673 Fax: 902-494-1685 Phone II :902-488-6796 http://is.dal.ca/~uhoeger *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
An interesting point on this thread is whether mags should be covering such accidents. In the most recent issue of Atlantic Coastal Kayaker, there is a letter to the editor from someone who objects to seeing such stories and Tamsin Venn, the editor, in response explains why it is important to continue covering them. Doug just said something on PaddleWise about how new people might be scared off by all the talk of entrapment with stuck sprayskirts and methods of freeing oneself. There is always a downside or dark side to anything. Manufacturers aren't always happy to see this mentioned and apparently this may be true of some consumers as well. Also as pointed out, celebrities don't seem to be want to be seen wearing a PFD and ads and general magazine coverage tends to forget the PFD and other safety gear in the photo layouts. But there is a bright side. Places like PaddleWise certainly clear the air in frank discussions about safety gear and skills needed as well as couping with specific problems. The club newsletters are better and better at it such as the Chesapeake Paddler Assoc one which often deals with specific problems and solutions. The paddling magazines are better at it too moving more and more to safety tips and considerations along with the nice scenary paddling articles. More and more paddlers are seeking instruction be it ACA or BCU or something else. It is rare to see a truly experienced paddler without a PFD and without cold water clothing on waters below 55 and even 60 degrees (This wasn't true ten years ago). It is hard for a beginner not to be exposed to safety concerns and issues. This wasn't true earlier when even the advise in leading sea kayaking books did not emphasize these; an example, Derek Hutchinson's famous statement in the earliest version of his books about not wanting to go paddling smelling like a stinky frogman--meaning the neoprene and his cavalier attitude about wearing a PFD even at symposiums. Imagine the situation now if that posture and attitude had continued to prevail with the magazines, books, and even clubs. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 - 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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