Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker Nearly Dies

From: Niels Blaauw <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:51:07 +0100
About the whole discussion:

It's so good to read it all! In Paddlewise, saying this kayakker is a
beginner is preaching to the choir. What's more, the choir is getting
bored with it!

I'm almost embarressed to say, that right now I am in a simular
discussion with my own club, with a totally different feedback.

I'm trying to convince them, that for paddling on cold water, more then
500 meters from shore, you may expect:

- That kayaks have adequate floatation;
- That everybody has practiced rescues;
- That everybody has practiced capsising, releasing a sprayskirt and
getting out of the kayak;
- That if the wind is blowing 5 or higher, you should know how to steer
and brace.

Doesn't sound too unreasonable, does it? Well, according to a handful of
my clubmembers its bordering on paranoia. Their main argument: "Nothing
happened so far, so how dangerous can it be?"

Had I not been a member of Paddlewise, had I not seen the flood of
accident reports each spring, I would never have started this
discussion. 

Thanks, paddlewisers. In the club I may stand alone, but not in the
bigger picture.

Niels.
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Received on Sat Mar 27 2004 - 02:55:44 PST

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