Jed got it right. It's fairly simple: Do we want to take the time and effort to learn what it takes to be skillful and safe [roll, hip and edge control, flexibility, braces, properly outfitted boat], or do we want risk? We all had to be taught to drive a car but how many of us has taken a lesson or learned a new skill since those Driver's Ed days? The most risky thing most of us do is get into an automobile. But we think the risks are all under control and we have that healthy sense of denial without which we would never drive. That same denial makes less sense in the water because most of us are so cut off from nature that we have little appreciation for what it can do. When I first started paddling whitewater I thought helmets and pfds were for those duffers who actually tipped over. My first time in a thunderstorm in Lake Michigan taught me that waves are not always those friendly surfables I played in so often. Maybe we should acknowledge our denial and just admit if we ever drown it probably be for lack of preparation and sound judgement. And quit making excuses for why we are too lazy to learn. End of sermon. Bless you all. Jim Tibensky _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.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 4/3/01 11:00:58 AM, jtibensky_at_msn.com writes: << Maybe we should acknowledge our denial and just admit if we ever drown it probably be for lack of preparation and sound judgment. And quit making excuses for why we are too lazy to learn. >> Seems to me this is a bit of preaching to the choir. The reason a lot of us are here is to learn. I take what I've heard here and test it on the water and against the judgment of paddlers whose skills and experience I respect. CPA is discussing trip leaders and development of good judgment. Some people naturally have the ability to size up a new situation and can formulate an appropriate response. Some people have to learn the hard way, by making bad decisions and LEARNING from those decisions. The ones who will probably end up in the greatest trouble are those who do not learn from mistakes, theirs or anyone else's. I would think mentoring is the best way to foster judgment in those willing to learn by example or by making mistakes. Let people make mistakes and be ready to point to the lesson. Be ready to back up the student. Don't let them go too far but let them make the mistake. That is the surest way for them to learn. Shunning those who learn the hard way does not foster good paddling. There is that tiny number who will not learn and who will be a danger to themselves and others. Those are the ones who will be statistics and should be avoided. I'm a bit of the risk-averse type. I don't take chances I'm not very comfortable with. I do find myself in uncomfortable situations and once I get through them I'm elated. I almost always come away with knew knowledge and a bit more confidence. What gets in the way of me learning is being protected by others too much. Because I'm afraid, though willing to try, sometimes we don't go forward. This holds true in a lot more spheres than paddling. Limitations on learning come from the best intentioned sources. In paddling, the paternalism of experienced paddlers limits the learning opportunities of new paddlers. This is the nebulous sphere of judgment. I'm in the category of new, so I have to depend on those with whom I paddle to determine if they are both willing and able to help me if I do get in over my head. If their sole criterion is will I get into trouble, I'll never get to expand my experience while I'm with them. I have to go without them to have learning opportunities. If they don't want to be bothered with being in "teaching mode" that day, fine, but I hope that this "they" will be open to letting me learn on their watch when the conditions are right. Classes certainly help but they are not real paddling experiences. All the theory thrown up here and on other lists is wonderful. I love it but it isn't paddling. I didn't learn to roll at my keyboard. I won't learn how to brace of my offside or handle following seas in this chair. I would love to have the security of a good, willing back-up with me when I'm out on the water learning. 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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