It won't happen to me...

Written by ned

Wednesday, 09 January 2008 07:37

"It won't happen to me"

I think that's what it comes down to. Thats how I justify it, explain it. That's how I get back on after hearing how a seemingly innocuous rapid can cause a fatality like the one on the Crake last week. I guess rationally we all know that a set of circumstances could come together and there will be an accident It could be on the river, road or anywhere else.

I paddled the rapid in question a couple of days after the accident, trying to retrieve the kit lost by the group while trying to affect a rescue. It was an odd circumstance, and the mood was serious, but I still couldn't resist messing about with on the water. Playing near the spot a man drowned at, then moving down to look for more lost kit.

I questioned whether this was 'tasteful', but its going to happen sometime. The river was just the same as before the accident and didn't seem to care. Sort a boat out, retrieve some throwlines. Then go for an aggressive high cross with a carve into the eddy and back outin one move, whizzing the tail past the offending rock, which was still defiantly kicking up a small rooster tail. It still feels good.

None of us set out to hurt ourselves on the river, we all make calculated risks about what to run and how to run it. The more I put myself in the position of looking at a line and making judgements about the risks involved, the better my judgement seems to be. That is one of the great things about kayaking, managing the risk is very life affirming. I think all adventure sports share this is in common, and for me it happens on the river. Even on the Crake two days after a fatality.

Besides, it wont happen to me....