[Paddlewise] Safety Issues

The thing with starting any sport is that you are
doing it to increase you quality of life.  So your
dreaming of rapids, whales, camping with friends and
sunsets.  Your not dreaming of drowning or epic
battles in huge waves.  Safety is of course about
really bad things happening to you.  So who wants to
hear about it with the in-your-face technique that
some folks from mountaineering, backcountry skiing, ww
kayaking and seakayaking use?  Under the criteria of
you must know all rescue techniques before you can go
have fun, who would want to start kayaking?

The technique that I think works best is for the
experienced people in an activity to take over a
subtle leadership roll.  Rather than plunging out for
a big crossing, just mention that there is more to see
and lots of fun paddling by cruising near shore.  With
ww kayaking, the group leaders did an initial safety
talk, picked a fairly easy route and then added safety
technique as we all rested in eddies.  It was
non-threatening and didn't scare folks away right
away.  It can be as simple as the leader doing a roll
and then just mentioning that it sure is nice to be
warm and dry.  Every student will be thinking about
wetsuits and drytops all the way home.

Just my two cents worth.

Scot

Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! 
http://auctions.yahoo.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/
***************************************************************************