"Way out of line, Chuck. Scott's other major point was that he sees a lot of paddlers out there with very poor skills ... and that they need more training and experience in battle conditions. How about meeting the argument made head-on, instead of cherry- picking statements out of context?" ------------------------------ Hi Dave, I agree my comments are totally rediculous. I expect that most of us learned, apart from basics, by going into demanding conditions with friends and trained "to see what we could do". Now we are in the mode of providing advice, which Scott doesn't seem to like very much. So what is the answer? Do we offer the advice, or not? The little story about the 6 capsized kayakers was a typical press account that provides no useful information other than that the event happened, date and place. Those paddlers failed to take advantage of a perfect chance to do an "all in rescue". I've done that with novice paddlers a mile or so off shore. It instills confidence. Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
skimmer wrote: > I agree my comments are totally rediculous. I expect that most of > us learned, apart from basics, by going into demanding conditions > with friends and trained "to see what we could do". Now we are in > the mode of providing advice, which Scott doesn't seem to like very > much. > > So what is the answer? Do we offer the advice, or not? Yes, we do. I think the point is to get folks into learning situations in which they are confronted with conditions that test their abilities, in which they must deal with the mismatch between what they think they can handle, and what they actually can paddle. I agree 100% with Scott's claim that it is development and maintenance of skills which is the critical lacking ingredient, not a given piece of safety gear. Most of the paddlers in my area fit that description. I also agree that requiring a paddler carry a given item does not do very much to make the paddler safer. In fact, many paddlers in my acquaintance feel just carrying a pump (but not practicing its use in demanding conditions), or a paddle float (same caveat), etc., enhances their safety. That is a very dangerous state of mind. I suspect we are on pretty much the same wavelength, Chuck; perhaps the problem is the face put on the message. In any case, I suspect it is not the giving of advice that triggers some of us, but the mindset that a given piece of gear is the critical ingredient. In other words, we should be hammering on skill development, not gear acquisition and carrying. I think if skills are developed, the gear comes along as a matter of course... AND the paddler then knows what to do with it. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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