On Thursday, April 17, 2003, at 10:09 AM, Dave Kruger wrote: > "Nick Schade" <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com> wrote: > >> I won't try to justify the ACA in grouping white water with sea >> kayaking, however at this point most accident statistics glom all >> canoeing and kayaking into one group. Even if it is not perfect, >> differentiating between canoes and kayaks is at least an improvement >> over existing record keeping. [snip] > >> If we don't want to burdensome regulation on our sport, the best bet >> is >> to work to see that the casual paddler is safer. It is very unlikely >> that any mandatory certification would require learning a specific >> rescue technique. It would most like require you spend a few hours in >> a >> class room then pass a written test. [snip] > > Yeah, I suspect you have it nailed, Nick. If it were like hunter > safety > requirements before use of firearms to hunt, I'd be a lot more > inclined to > support the concept -- firearms can hurt others, more than they hurt > the > person pulling the trigger. > <snip> > In my own speckled introduction to paddling, it was actually el stupido > mongo WW rafting on Class IV - V water (with no preparation) that > could have > killed me at a young age. That I did not Darwin out is a testament to > luck > more than skill. A little mandatory instruction on what the minimum > safety > requirements for WW rating might have prevented me from my near-death > experiences. (Yeah, there were two of them -- I learn slowly; both > are so > embarrassing I can't share them, even now, some 35 years later. Ooof.) Personally I am not in favor of mandatory class/tests. While they may work, they would tend to be a blunt instrument. My main objection is for those who want to start the sport. Should it be necessary that my 8 year old nephew attend a class and pass a course before I can let him try paddling? If I want to introduce some friends to the sport, should they have to attend a class and pass a test before I can put them in a boat and go for a paddle? Should everyone have to attend a class and pass a test before they can try kayaking to see if they like it? I would be more inclined to say "yes" if the class required getting out on the water, but actual paddling is not likely to be involved in any certification requirement. Making a class optional does mean that someone can go to Walmart and put out to sea with no instruction at all. I agree that they should have some protection against the marketing of a large corporation, but is there way other than mandatory government regulated testing. In an effort to save a couple 100 lives a year nationwide, should we create a burden on the thousands who just want to try something fun and different? The sport they are trying is not that dangerous at the level most people want to participate. Maybe all we need to do is be better at getting the word out that there are some risks and there are a few simple things you can do to reduce the risks significantly. For example wearing a PFD. Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 17 2003 - 08:38:17 PDT
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