> As long as people attempt to do something that's beyond their current > level > we'll need appropriate safety equipment and, in my opinion, also need to > encourage them to use it properly. Because they're probably going to push > their competence anyway. > > Craig Jungers > Moses Lake, WA > I only use the words "safety equipment" generally, because that's what we normally call our flares, radios, PFD's, immersion apparel, etc. But really, for me, I don't differentiate any of this stuff. It's all part of my "kayaking reality." I mean like, when I used to play rugby in high school, I wore a heavy, abrasion-resistant shirt, cleated shoes, a molded mouth guard, and an athletic cup. I didn't consider my athletic cup as specifically a piece of safety gear. I knew what would happen if I didn't wear one as evidenced by the pain I inflicted on bigger opposition players not packing protection, and simply wore one for obvious reason. To me, my "gear," just as my fitness and my skills at ball handling and my tackling abilities were all part and parcel of the experience, fun, and reality. So too with paddling: my wetsuit, by paddle, my poggies, my radio, my predictive forecasting skills, my high brace, my combat roll, my SeaSeat, my tethers, my knife, my spray skirt, my tent-shelter...etc... - it's all part of it. Part of the overall reality. Oh, I get a kick out of reading Scott's comments, sometimes replying, sometimes nodding, sometimes shaking, and sometimes in other venues reading and writing about the technical merits of gear and the pragmatism of skill development, but I personally don't think of all these items as separate pieces of "safety" gear. Nor do I consider my roll as a "safety" skill or my re-enter and roll skills as another "safety" skill. In the end, there's my brain - both the left side and the right side trying to coexist (without chocolate) - then there is all the connectivity with the tissue/nerves/bones below, then to my kayak and paddle and all the related synthetic and natural elements that continue from there, both items in my hatch, items readily available, on through to the atoms below the hull forcing often co-mingled joy and dread. Well, I guess most of us label people most of he time, so why not be arbitrary about inanimate objects and other things too. I came ot of my Mama balls-out in my Birthday suit: Swimming in the ocean naked is as close to being pure recreating in the water as one can get. You don't get too far or carry much gear, or have the chance to integrate all these inanimate objects with the natural ones in a learning-curve, especially in colder climes, just swimming. So we add skills, knowledge, experience, judgment, intuition, and different levels of equipment; and both a man and a woman can shake what their mamas gave them when they get back to the beach safely. If everyone did that all the time, we'd all be happy I think. (Picture everyone on Paddlewise standing on the beach stark naked, well except for Scott in his PFD - Kidding as usual Scot. Flow bro). Now go paddle safely, which is to say, turn on your brain first and go paddling and let the rest flow. And hey, I'm no Buddhist, but I sure bet if there's a Buddha out/in/up/around there/here, he/she/it/non-it would be a paddler. Doug L (obviously off his meds tonight) *************************************************************************** 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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