Re: [Paddlewise] More Thoughts on Bow Rescue

I tuck the paddle under in my armpit between my arm and side of my chest. 
This secures the paddle as I raise my hands above the water and move them back 
and forth to provide a target for the rescue bow. The paddle pretty much stays 
in that position until I have hip flicked myself upright. This also provides me 
a safe "storage location" if I need to wet exit and my hands are free to 
locate and pull the grab loop.

My training and experience has taught me to keep my paddle with me thus I 
would personally never consider taking the time to secure the paddle under 
bungies - which you also do not have in white water. I did let go of a brand new 
werner carbon bent shaft paddle (it was the first time I ever used it) when I wet 
exited on a river and my body was pushed into a boulder. It was the second 
boulder that forced the paddle out of my hand. The force of the river water 
pushed the paddle up against a rock and in a few minutes the paddle went from a 
one piece to a two piece paddle. A costly lesson (and I hadn't paid for the 
paddle yet). So learn to hold onto the paddle.

best wishes
sid
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