Re: [Paddlewise] capsized

Craig said (snip):
> It's the theme-park attitude; nothing can happen and, if it does, someone
> will rescue them. And the article bears it out. Someone did rescue him and
> thereby perpetuated the myth that they can't get hurt.
>
> I waited in the safe shoals of my grass island yesterday while a bozo in a
> speedboat with a wakeboard tower drove around and around in circles in 
> front
> of the launch ramp at full speed. When he tired of it and zoomed off to
> another part of the lake I crossed. But not without keeping my eyes peeled
> for him - or someone like him.
>
> As they like to say now, "It's all good".

It's all good if you get some skills and show some good judgement. Nothing 
wrong with treating nature as a theme park, but instead of sitting in a 
roller coaster strapped in and guided by rails, the ride is dangerous and 
requisit skills should be obviously honed prior to engagement, just like 
river paddling. So we are back to judgement, and idiots have poor judgement, 
and those who do have good judgement who push the envelope too soon 
hopefully have some backup. This guy didn't have back up it appears. Luck, 
serendipity, and a Good Samaratin saved his cold, sorry butt - not to 
mention the hard-working CG guys n' gals picking up the slack. And calling 
the CG, if he had had communication potential, still would have been a poor 
initial backup strategy.

It's too bad for open coastal waters of Washington and Oregon, say, there 
weren't more learning opportunities where a guy didn't have to pay 300 
greenbacks to take a course with some cult-status instructor for negotiating 
rock gardens, for example. I notice local stores running more short courses 
for open water paddling. Prices will hopefully be more reasonable. That's 
all good. But some of these instructors don't even no trms like piercing . 
Or maybe it's a nonclamenture thing. Like Paul Caffyn said when he came to 
North America in the early 80's, "I can't believe you guys give intermediate 
symposium classes on how to round headlands. Isn't that a basic skill?" 
Basic skills. Let me see, put on your polypro underwear under your quickdry 
shorts, you put two feet in here, slide in, and paddle away over there 
towards that horizon. Hmmm...maybe it's not all good.

A ranting we will go.

Doug L
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