Re: [Paddlewise] What's in the PFD?

This "experience" factor has come up on the list before. When I use the word 
"experienced paddler," I'm usually thinking of someone who has reached 
beyond intermediate skills (hard skills (craft dependant), soft skills, and 
applied judgment effectively proven in a variety of conditions). Very often 
the media refers to "an experienced paddler" when reporting an incident and 
that description is often suspect I think.

In terms of club paddling scenarios, I agree; it is often difficult to 
differentiate another paddler's experience level, and often one's own too. 
That's why I like the default PFD should be worn rules many clubs implement, 
or at least promote. That way, at least we know everyone can float. For the 
general boating population, many drownings would probably be averted by 
wearing a PFD. I don't think Scott disagrees with that general observation. 
Paddlers usually can swim and make efforts that are reasonably effective to 
rescue themselves. I do understand Scott's perspective, and therefore his 
implied view that PFD's are overrated. Yes, they can be. By contextual 
definition, most untested hard skills and any given piece of safety gear can 
be overrated too. But there's a hierarchy of skill development. Paddlers 
would do well to learn to brace and roll, depending on the craft they paddle 
and waters traveled. Those who don't want to learn often use a paddlefloat 
as backup to a capsize. That doesn't make a new paddler who embarks on a 
trip with their new paddlefloat unsafe, does it? Well it can if the paddler 
has no understanding of how conditions might change, no bracing skills, and 
often less safe with no immersion apparel. Or as Scott says of the newbie 
paddler, their lack solid skills and the ability to think for themselves has 
been supplanted by rather being dependent on rescue gear, often promoted by 
trip leaders, etc. But are they any more unsafe than an experienced paddle 
who has never tested their trusty roll in combat conditions or their back up 
gear in real life scenarios?

I don't think there are any absolute answers to these questions. Scott does 
make an extremely valid point about paddlers who are in denial about their 
actual paddling abilities. His best argument from my reading of his post 
rang true, that these same paddlers then attempt to supplement their lack of 
ability with a pile of safety gear. I'm not sure if they do this knowingly, 
or just simply make a lot of assumptions due to their lack of real 
experience. His next point was that they then try to dictate what equipment 
others must have. The later does sound deplorable. I just don't see that 
happening very often. Maybe I've missed the vibe. I do hear experienced 
paddlers continually recommending safety gear, as I tend to do, as do many 
well-intentioned safety reports and respected kayak-specific publications. 
But more often than not, there is usually a declaimer that safety gear 
doesn't make you safe. I always look for that message. Maybe the former 
message needs to be spelled out a little more clearly or the later given 
more emphasis.

Anyway, Scott wrote clearly and succinctly, making his points logically and 
consistently. Teaching good judgment and promoting the derivable values of 
good judgment are something kayak writers and kayak coaches worldwide 
struggle to communicate effectively, often drowned out by the need to 
develop hard skills and teach the use of back-up gear. Good judgment is 
something that has to be applied by the actual individual paddler. I think 
Scott resonates that message in a forthright manner

I just bought my daughters new bike helmets today - good quality ones. We 
even added identification/contact information made available by use of 
waterproof, stick-on pull tabs. This doesn't make them any safer as 
cyclists. I still need to teach them traffic and avoidance skills, and help 
"steer" them with the use of good judgment, both demonstrated while I ride 
and while I oversee them applying their own judgment as we venture further 
afield this summer.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC



>> Doug writes;
>>> So what's wrong with trying to maintain a good safety
>>> message anyway? Or is it just the dogmatic way some
>>> posters present themselves?
>
> Scott replied:
> >What I see on the water today is a bunch of paddlers who are in
>> denial about their actual paddling abilities
> <snip rest of good comments>
>
> I've had similar discussions with paddling companions, with the conclusion 
> being that until you see how someone performs in real life conditions, 
> it's hard to tell the difference between someone who has, for example, 10 
> years paddling experience, or two years of paddling experience repeated 5 
> times. This presents a real challenge in a club setting where one has to 
> qualify those interested in a particular trip, and the likely conditions 
> to be encountered.
>
> Good judgement comes from experience, but it seems that some people never 
> grasp the concept (or have the experience).......
>
> Erik Sprenne
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