Re: [Paddlewise] Entrapment

On Fri, 2 Jan 2004 23:35:47 EST, KiAyker_at_aol.com said:
 
I personally do not consider the Eskimo rescues to be viable options.


I once performed a Bow Rescue [hate that word Es***o] in Class IV water
on the Ocoee River at high water.  The paddler I assisted was unable to
roll but was not panicked.  He had tried his roll and was continuing to
attempt it when he saw me charging at him.  He waited a second, saw or
felt my bow, grabbed it and came up.  That's the only bow resuce I've
ever attempted and it worked fine.

Another technique I have used many times when teaching whitewater is to
paddle up to a person who is setting up to roll. Knowing that most of my
students did not have really good rolls, I would sit along side while
they were setting up.  Just as they started the sweep or extension, I
would grab their stern with both my hands and torque the boat as hard as
possible to aid the roll.  Many students came up with surprised smiles on
their faces.  I would try not to tell them that I had "helped".

With a panicked paddler in the boat, the Hand of God is the only choice
unless there are more than one assistants, in which case the torque
method would work.  I think.

Jim Tibensky
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