Surfski Knowledge Base

Pmarcus
Mar 30 #28939

Its interesting to read and an educational reminder of water incidents that happen around our neck of the woods. I am sure that the paddler or rower involved would never be happy about themselves being a focal point! As a person who also has been involved in an event or two, having your racers have multiple safety devices with them while paddling, definitely helps! This obviously applies to our everyday paddling sessions too. We got high tech paddling wear, like DownWind pants and tops, Viakobi gear, we have gloves, booties, hats. We should buddy paddle, carry a radio, leashes, attention getting devices and extra paddle on Oc's…etc, etc!! As a person who makes my living and playtime on the water, one thing and only one thing always is in the back of my mind…..

“The water doesn't give a crap of WHO you are!”

We all know Bham Bay has its own weather system, even though Cliff, Rufus, Iwind, TJ's, Tamar and Duncan H are saying to wear your Speedo, well maybe not Duncan in a Speedo….

I was out paddling by myself Sunday from 8:30 to about 10:15 doing laps of MP. It was big conditions and I hit 14 MPH plus a few times in my OC going with the waves, but against an out going current, which stacked things up. It was big and messy past Post Point ….So I have a few questions to ask. Is it just human nature to keep upping the ante in bigger and bigger conditions? Here is a tricky question, does going out in Bigger and Bigger conditions really make you a better paddler or does it just just give you too much confident's? When does the fun factor get left behind based upon the weather? No rating scale, its either big and and extreme and more weather is on its way or its not. Most importantly, does going out in extreme conditions warrant the fact that if something does happen to you or the person (trying to assist with a rescue or a remount), give you the right to make the rest of us feel terrible if something were to go SOUTH? I, for one, didnt grow up in a K-1, or paddle among the rocks with Tsunami Rangers or go to extremes in White Water. Yeah, I chicken out some times, is that a bad thing?

Thanks for reading………..Cheers!

Larry Goolsby
Apr 1 #28947

Well said Peter. I also choose to stay on shore when there are 'nuclear' conditions. If I'm nervous, the fun factor suddenly takes a back seat. It's like that saying, “It's all fun and games until someone gets their eye poked out.”
LG

Paul Reavley
Apr 1 #28951

There is a lot of stuff to unpack with this topic. It is not simple to me at all.

Peter and Larry, you have been paddling here for a long, long time. You had to have gone through an evolution in reaching your current judgement about when to stay onshore. How about the Whatcom Paddler archives? I have read stories about locals who have pushed their limits over and over again, many times being very fortunate to have escaped more serious consequences. Our local paddlers don't walk around advertising all of their close calls and foolish decisions, but they have a pretty honest and detailed history of discussing them on Whatcom Paddlers (I was surprised to discover how much when I read through all of the old stories)

And beyond the “nuclear” question, there are serious issues to remember for the large numbers of us who are still learning and trying to extend our capabilities that are still somewhere below that threshold. To me there is one element in particular in regard to the recent Hood River story that I would like to see getting more emphasis. From what the Hood River folks relay, this run and the boat Kelley was using were well within her capabilities.

Somewhere down in the message thread Kelley says: “I should have mentioned in my post that I had a stern leash on as well (I just didn't fully trust my set-up as I had done it quickly before our run). So, I had both on, which probably contributed to the tangle. In retrospect, it was a very foolish decision to use that leg leash at all - I should have taken the time to really set my stern leash up securely and properly!!”

What I have heard MANY TIMES (and unfortunately also sometimes participated in) is mistakes made when getting in a hurry. We all have to be familiar and comfortable with our setup. New, rental, borrowed, demo, recently modified boats - they may be well within our confidence level stability and skill wise, but do we have them setup in a manner that is tried and true for us - before going on a more challenging/demanding paddle? Did we go through all of our checklist(s) before getting on the water?….Seems to me that this sometimes muddled up aspect of our pre-trip planning, prep and decision making is where we should also be putting more focus.

Dennis Mowry
Apr 1 #28955

Great call Paul,

Confession time.
I've certainly been guilty of making mistakes rushing to get on the water.
Forgetting my PFD, pogies, or not noticing my plug out of the vent hole, not securing my rudder. Not having the proper clothing. Often leaving my radio and or phone, not because I wouldn't need them, more because of the rush or not fully charged or misplaced phone case. It'll be OK. Even plenty of times, knowing my boat could some fine tuning, adjustments to the foot brace, pedals, rudder, foot strap, etc, and put it off too next time.

Hurry up and get behind.
Rushing, lack of procedures and focus could be the cause of many “accidents” as going out beyond our abilities. The rush and anxiety getting into conditions certainly back fire with pushing to far to fast & lack of awareness.

Our sport is certainly fun, health, social and challenging. It is also serious and can be risky, especially when lives as at stake.

I admit to being a procrastinator or trying to get something else squeezed in, often creating a rush on myself. Lacking organization and bring fully prepared and focused. I didn't make it to Eagle Scout.
I've made some recent adjustments to my boat, which is an on going process. I will continue to work in my diligence, attention, awareness and focus.

We all can learn from our own and others mistakes. Continue to support and encourage each other. Make this sport even better.

Making our lives, happy, healthy, strong & long.

:D'Mow