Re: [Paddlewise] swimming pool accident

From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 17:14:49 -0500
From: "niels.blaauw" <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>

> Playing in the waves in this pool is regular practice in my club.
> Although we always wear helmets in surf and whitewater, we do not wear
> them in this pool. I don't know why: It's a kind of tradition that
> nobody ever questions. 

Interesting.  I have been doing pool sessions with WW kayakers* this
season (the SK club couldn't get enough people) and most of them
wear helmets in the pool.  They want to practice in the same gear
that they use to paddle on rivers, so helmets & WW drytops are used 
instead of bathing suits.  Someone told me that another WW club
insists on all paddlers wearing helmets in the pool.

I had an incident a couple of years ago that makes me think a helmet 
isn't a bad idea in the pool.  I was practicing hip flicks at the
edge of the pool and trying some quasi-handroll stuff.  At one point
I flipped over and immediately went into hand roll mode.  I almost got
up and it encouraged me to try again.  After flailing up and down a 
few times, I had moved myself over to the side of the pool and slammed
my temple against the pool deck!  Stars for a bit and a wet exit.
I ended up with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (must of dislodged
something in the balance organs) and was out of it for a couple of 
weeks.  Now I stay away from the edge of the pool and use a float or
storm paddle for such practice.

In your case, with such shallow water in parts of the pool, it may be a
good idea.

Mike

*tried rolling a canoe (Rival) last week. Trickier than it looks - I'll
stick to SK :-).  One woman there can hand roll a canoe (Phantom? small 
single canoe).  Makes me want to cry!!!

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Received on Mon Feb 11 2002 - 14:12:48 PST

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