Re: [Paddlewise] Techno-Junk

   I don't consider myself to be a minimalist. Nor do I consider myself to be 
a fatalist. That is, I am not going to condemn every paddler to death who 
does not do things exactly the same way I do. Sea kayaking is a very broad 
sport which encompasses a rather wide spectrum of variations. I often get the 
feeling that certain people on this list are rather elitist in their thinking 
and as such are unwilling to even consider some of the, shall we for lack of 
a better description call them, lower levels of the sport.
   I, like so many others on this list, teach classes in sea kayaking. As an 
instructor I try to be constantly aware of the beginners perception of the 
sport. It is to this degree that I sometimes feel compelled to contribute 
something to this list which is intended to, as Mr. Lloyd so eloquently put 
it, provide some balance. Unfortunately I often do so in a rather brash 
manner for which I do apologize. I guess I will need to work on that in the 
future.
   My point in my previous posts was simply that not everyone new to this 
sport needs to run out and buy every piece of rescue gear available to be a 
safe paddler. I feel that a newbie on this list could easily get the 
impression that they are being irresponsible and flirting with death if they 
do not carry a GPS, and a VHS radio, and flares and a spare paddle and 
paddlefloats, etc., whenever they go out paddling. I enjoy a new toy just as 
much as the next guy, but the equipment one carries in a kayak is dependent 
on they type of paddling one does. And it is my belief that a new paddler 
would do a whole lot better investing in instruction and learning the skills 
then trying to purchase all of the swell toys often emphasized on this list. 
That's all!

Scott
So.Cal.




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