Re: [Paddlewise] Trips - hosts and leaders

I've been following this discussion closely and finally think I need to  
chime in with some perspective.  I live in Senegal and I'm an advanced  beginner 
kayaker.  In Senegal, there are no kayaking clubs and no kayaking  
centers/shops that provide training and/or rentals.  When I first  started kayaking I took 
commercial kayaking training and went on a few  guided tours.  I also joined 
a great paddling club, in the DC area,  the Chesapeake Paddlers Association 
(CPA).  Club members reinforced my  rescue skills and taught me how to roll.  
And, members generously  organized guided tours that were very much appreciated 
by us newcomers.
 
Now that I don't have either option, boy do I miss it.  So, I'm trying  to 
create both.  I started by organizing introduction to kayaking  classes with 
help from Ousmane, the captain of Senegal's national kayaking team,  who is a 
good teacher -- he provides the instruction, I provide the logistic and  the 
kayaks.  Do I take a risk during these classes?  While luckily CPA  members 
donated PFDs to our new "Pirates of Dakar" club so at least paddlers are  now 
wearing PFDs, I always worry that someone will get  hurt.  Since I'm in Senegal its 
unlikely I'd be sued if something  happened, but its not the lawsuit I'm 
stressed about -- its the personal  responsibility I'd feel if someone got hurt.  
It is worth it?   Yes -- I love kayaking and its safer and more enjoyable to 
have friends to  kayak with.  And, it feels good to introduce people to a sport 
I  enjoy.  But, a community needs a minimal number of kayaker which  is where 
the commercial kayaking center comes in -- novices can rent  kayaks, get good 
instruction, try a few guided trips and then hopefully buy  their own kayak 
from the same shop -- then, the club would have some  depth and vibrancy.  So, 
with help from Peace Corps, I'm working with  Ousmane so that he can start a 
commercially viable kayaking center in  Dakar.  This is all a lot of work, but 
again its worth it.
 
Maybe in the U.S. we've started to take all of this for granted -- there  are 
so many options, we forget how good we have it.  Spend a few months  with me 
in Senegal and you'll be thankful for both the commercial kayaking  centers 
and kayaking clubs, and maybe you'll be motivated to spend the  time and 
shoulder the stress and responsibility of leading a  trip.  
 
Beth
Impex Montauk 
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