Re: [Paddlewise] Elite racers

>Tord wrote:
>
>For guys like these Chillcheater's Aquatherm stuff sounds perfect -
>thin and much more flexible than neoprene, and yet warm enough!
Response:

There can be many solutions to the potential problem - only if you see that 
there may be a problem. I fear that the above solution may be akin to 
suggesting to a free-climber that there is a better rope that  can be used ;-)

I had provided a back channel comment to Dave Kruger that I am now pasting 
below.
After watching the video - I think for me the issue revolves more around 
the mind sets of racers versus ocean kayaking ... what I found most telling 
about the video was the comment that basically, "if you end up in the 
water, you've got a problem" (12:47); and"if you went in the water off 
there, you were more or less dead" (14:23). However, when you look at what 
preparation did they have for going into the water - which had to be at 
least a possibility given the weather they were in - they had no wet/dry 
suits; no communication or signalling devices, or flares; no plan of action 
as to what they would do if there was a capsize, no paddle tethers, etc., 
etc. - The mentality seems to be that because they are athletes, and 
strong, and maybe fast/efficient paddlers, they can accomplish anything - 
are "unbeatable" (Howells video). But no pre-trip respect for the risks. I 
have difficulty imagining anyone who has done any tripping (and beyond a 
sea kayaking novice), getting this far into a situation with this difficult 
weather without at least some of the foregoing considerations.

I would expect a Doug Lloyd to be out in this weather - but he would have 
had a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, down to at least G, according to one of his 
posts from several years ago - and he would have been able to articulate 
these plans, prior to heading out from shore. Even then, he has described 
some near misses, when many things each went wrong.

This situation appears to be combined with the whole issue of group think 
and the tendency to lean towards increased risk because no one is 
comfortable being the one to say "No".- an issue that I think needs to be 
publicized and discussed more amongst groups. I wonder if every group, 
instead of a "designated driver" - needs to have a miner's canary - perhaps 
the weakest paddler, and whose role is to say whether they are comfortable 
and feel safe, or not. Or discuss what mitigation strategies - including 
not going - could be of help.








Sam Isaacs
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