RE: [Paddlewise] waves in california

Mark said
>a loose ski could have caused a lot of carnage with the others closer to
shore

& Melissa said
>on a day like that at the Wedge - especially with a 20' potential 
>projectile), thinking of others should trump fun/ego/bravado/whatever; 
>regardless of one's prowess and credentials. I'd call it selfish 

Not taking sides here, but this seems a to be a fundamental question of
ethics. Have we an ethical right to have fun, or engage in risky activity,
in the presence of others - where we might damage those others if our risk
gets out of control.

Let's assume for the moment that the 'others' are also out there taking part
in risky activity themselves, rather than just 'innocent passers-by'. I
think this is reasonable in the circumstances, as there wouldn't (I hope)
have been any toddlers in that surf... there was some risk just swimming in
it.

Melissa, is the use of a surf ski different from using a surf board in a
group situation ? If it's not, do you also condemn such use of surf boards -
with other surfies or swimmers in the water? If it is different, is it
different in 'kind' or in 'quantity' ie: do you see it as posing a different
type of risk or just a greater risk ?

As I said above, I'm not trying to get at anyone - just interested in
opinions. I must answer this question myself every time I kayak into a
swimming beach through surf - or go out to play in a short or long kayak
with board & body surfers.

Best Regards
Paul Hayward, Auckland, New Zealand
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