Re: [Paddlewise] A swift kick for the clueless

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 10:25 AM, <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> These people had no business doing what they were doing.  If I'd said or
> done anything, they'd probably look at ME like *I* was the fool.  *sigh*  I
> just paddled by and ignored them.  Thoughts?
>
> Last week my favorite almost-8-year-old, Hailey, came over to visit (along
with her best friend, Brianna). No one has ever accused me of acting mature
around Hailey so we all migrated down to the dock where the water was frozen
solid just a few weeks ago so PFDs all around. At some point Hailey decided
to walk the ropes that lead over the water to a tree (which we have used to
tie up boats). I predicted she would fall in. And, sure enough, she fell in.
Fully dressed. Got scared. Flailed around and yelled, then swam around the
dock to the ladder. At this point she decided it wasn't so bad after all and
swam around for a while. I should note that I would have jumped in to save
her but Hailey can swim much better than I can. So I stayed on the dock and
rolled around laughing.

This describes what is probably the most common human learning procedure. We
try something risky, get the crap scared out of us, work out way out of it,
then decide it wasn't so bad after all, and try it again with better
results.

The non-learning procedure includes not working our way out of it.

Is there an answer to this? For some, sure. Unfortunately, short of
regulating paddling the way we regulate airplane instruction (and that
doesn't include ultralights!), I think we just have to accept that most
people are going to behave like your canoe paddlers. Magazines like Sea
Kayaker and books (like the one that Matt Broze and George Gronseth wrote)
have been a big help in identifying problems and educating paddlers to
recognize them and plan for them. But people have to either read those
pieces or take lessons and your average paddler is just not that interested.

One suggestion I have is to get involved with your local youth groups... Boy
Scouts, Campfire Girls, etc.... and offer to speak to them. I take my kayaks
and gear to local schools and dress up and explain to them what the gear is
for. It's important because where I live the water temperatures in the
summer are 70 to 80F but lots of people go over to Puget Sound to play on
the water where the water temps are in the 40s (F). They underestimate the
problems cold water present. People don't have to buy drysuits or wetsuits
to paddle canoes... but they should recognize that there could be a problem
and think about it a little.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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