----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Scherrer" <Flatpick_at_teleport.com> > It's a paddler's responsibility to: > > 1. Take lessons and learn how to control your boat. > > 2. Learn about seamanship and rescue/ recoveries. > > 3. Outfit yourself for the conditions at hand. This includes learning how > to use all your kit. (more lessons?) > > 4. Go paddling with a support team and practice pushing your limit and > comfort zone. > > 5. Continue with coaching until you are happy with your results. > Steve, great list, and sign me up for a lesson! I would like to add one more item however, and this one goes at the top... 0. Have a brain and know how to use it. ;) Seriously... good judgment is the best safety skill. I like to tell people that kayaking is really quite safe as long as your judgement exceeds your physical ability to paddle. That is why a great paddler like Kirk can be perfectly safe using minimal safety gear, and I have paddled my non-bulkheaded sea kayak plenty of times with only air bags and no sea sock because I knew my skills were good enough for the worst possible conditions. Of course, good judgement doesn't happen a priori. A new paddler has to learn what kinds of things factor into safety, such as rescue ability, sea and weather state and forecasts, navigation, ability to summon help, etc. This obviously isn't learned overnight. Somebody might think they have thought of everything, and then something unheard comes along and gives 'em a good spanking. Assuming this person survives, then perhaps their judgment will be increased, although some may argue that people do not always learn from experience. Also, it is possible that some people can know all there is to know about safety, etc, but still make the wrong decision when it matters most. These people have inherently poor judgment and may not be able to learn how to make it better. The individuals who are extremely talented in this respect have a prestigious international award of their very own... ;) http://www.darwinawards.com/ Kevin *************************************************************************** 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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