Re: [Paddlewise] Inuit

In a message dated 11/14/2007 8:38:57 PM Pacific Standard Time,  
kdruger_at_pacifier.com writes:

Rob,  with all due respect to a paddler with more talent in his little toe 
than  I have in my entire body:  it ain't dogma, it is a different approach  
to paddling than what you believe in.  In brief, different strokes  ... 
different folks.

We call all the variants of what owners of  "sea kayaks" do, "sea kayaking," 
but what people actually do with these  boats is very diverse.  Sure enough, 
for open ocean paddling, or  "open coast paddling," having a solid, 
dependable roll is a critical  skill.  Ask around and find out what 
proportion of "sea kayak"  paddlers paddle open ocean conditions.  Those who 
do not, may not  "need" a dependable roll to stay within a reasonable 
envelope of safety,  an envelope as broad and encompassing as the envelope 
surrounding a  paddler skilled in rolling who invites using it by regularly 
exploring  extremely demanding conditions.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
Dave,
 
I completely disagree. (And that is with all due respect, of course.) There  
are many reasons paddlers choose to not learn, but it is a choice, and 
diversity  aside, if they paddle a hundred yards or more offshore, they ought to 
rethink  things. A hundred yards in paddling clothes is a long way to swim in cold 
water.  Ask me how I know this.  ; )
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

However, I am pretty sure we agree on one aspect of this:   lots and lots of 
paddlers, with or without a dependable roll, regularly  engage in paddling 
waters where their safety envelope is very small ...  here's the part where 
we agree, I bet ... and they do _not_ have a good  grasp of how much risk 
they are taking.  That's the part of paddling  safely where anybody, a 
roller or nonroller, needs to get on board.  It  is the single attribute 
most common among paddlers of my acquaintance who  have been "in trouble" at 
some point.

Reasons abound for a paddler  not knowing how much risk he/she is taking, 
but I suspect the principal one  is inability to conceptualize, in practical 
terms, and practice, how to  retrieve themselves from a capsize and/or swim. 
If we work on that,  folks whose paddling demands a reliable roll will be 
mandated to get one, or  change where and how they paddle.
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
I completely agree with that. The issue isn't as simple as never swim in  the 
first place or with good judgement and fewer backup skills to back you up,  
you'll be fine. I think the best answer to the discussion is having  multiple 
layers of defense. Starting with judgement, but not lapsing on the  safety 
equipment and skill set to use it properly. Just my 2 cents, but when  ever that 
tired argument about not needing to learn to roll gets trotted out it  usually 
turns out to be 99 % excuse and 1% opinion. (Ouch! My most inflammatory  
Paddlewise comment, like, ever.) 
 
Cheers,
 
Rob G







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