Re: [Paddlewise] (Paddle Float division)

Jim said:
>Doug Lloyd:  Here's some more: Practice doesn't make perfect. Luck,
perseverance, level-headedness, alternative strategies, _and_ practice,make
perfect.

>There is an old saying "Practice doesn't make perfect.  Perfect practice
makes perfect."  I know, too, from my experience that sometimes all I do
through practice is make my mistakes a habit.<

Jim,
Perhaps its the imperfect practice (practice where things go wrong) that
prove the most revealing and beneficial. For me, practice sessions are where
I not only dispel any lagging disuse issues, but where I also break paddles,
hook PFD's on protuberances, or snap deck straps and/or break deck fittings.
There's a lot of learning going on during these times. All really good stuff
when you think about it, as after all, this is usually done in a controlled
situation. Ideally though, I love the real-life rescue stuff where I am
forced into trying things in real conditions with real psychological
pressures. Not that I try to get myself into trouble, but where one
survives, the reality of the methods used and their respective strengths and
weaknesses sure come to light, along with the realities of cold-hand
restrictions, need for adequate immersion apparel, etc...

It would be kind of neat to send paddlers out into some dangerous seas, then
make them try out their self-rescue strategies, only do it with some kind of
safety net. I don't have cable TV, but I have seen a couple of those reality
shows at friend's houses, like "Fear Factor" (I think it's called), where
participants do seemingly dangerous activities but have backup close at
hand. If I was running a kayak course, I think I'd devise something like
that. As it is, the lake-bound paddlefloat sessions I've done in the past
sure convinced a lot of paddlers how exhausting and difficult just pumping
out their boat was with a hand pump after a successful wet re-enter (and
that was even with a fixed-deck outrigger). It is a real satisfaction when
you see the little lightbulb going on in their head, a big gulp, and the
comment, "Mmmm, guess I better be a bit more prudent about paddling alone."

I don't want to go off-context here, but I thought it was kind of funny that
the front picture on Doug Alderson's/Mike Pardy's new book -- where they go
into great lengths to try and situate kayakers away from the need for
self-rescues like the paddlefloat rescue in the first place -- is a picture
of a kayaker doing a paddlefloat re-entry. How ironic (and not either of the
author's choice from what I understand).

Well, there's always SOT's. Jump back on and away you go. Other than that,
practice (perfect or imperfect) and perseverance get my vote in the rescue
department. And a damn good roll -- for those so inclined. After all,
Paddlefloats and Sponsons are the real anti-evolutionism. :-)

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC

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