Any kayakers on the board? When you are upside down, how do you return to right side up again?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kayak-search-1.3458570
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kayak-search-1.3458570
Kayakers
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
This story personally bummed me out.
There are a few different methods on how to roll. Tonnes of information on YouTube. If you don't tuck and/or sweep the wrong way and panic, you're fucked and must bail. Practicing is so important.
The kayak those two had seemed pretty recreational (sit-inside model)... I imagine they bailed right off the bat and then succumbed to the water temperature right away (which I imagine would be within 1 minute tops) - especially the small woman.
At a minimum, they both should have had a PFD and full dry-suit with thermal under layers... That is about $700-$1,500 worth of gear each... Doubtful they had it.
There are a few different methods on how to roll. Tonnes of information on YouTube. If you don't tuck and/or sweep the wrong way and panic, you're fucked and must bail. Practicing is so important.
The kayak those two had seemed pretty recreational (sit-inside model)... I imagine they bailed right off the bat and then succumbed to the water temperature right away (which I imagine would be within 1 minute tops) - especially the small woman.
At a minimum, they both should have had a PFD and full dry-suit with thermal under layers... That is about $700-$1,500 worth of gear each... Doubtful they had it.
It has nothing to do with being able to "right" your boat...
I am an avid kayaker. I have paddled the upper and lower Credit River numerous times and many would consider me a high intermediate to low superior skill level. Given the conditions, no experienced paddler would attempt such a thing without a full dry suit, a watertight spray skirt, and a quality PFD. It doesn't appear that any of these things were used.
Just like that guy that attempted to paddle the lower credit in a 17' boat, without a spray skirt, last fall, in similarly temperature water, this a terrible tragedy, which could easily have been avoided, using some simple common sense.
May they rest in peace.
I am an avid kayaker. I have paddled the upper and lower Credit River numerous times and many would consider me a high intermediate to low superior skill level. Given the conditions, no experienced paddler would attempt such a thing without a full dry suit, a watertight spray skirt, and a quality PFD. It doesn't appear that any of these things were used.
Just like that guy that attempted to paddle the lower credit in a 17' boat, without a spray skirt, last fall, in similarly temperature water, this a terrible tragedy, which could easily have been avoided, using some simple common sense.
May they rest in peace.
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The CBC said they were "experience paddlers" and "paddled on that river frequently".
Something smells here.
We heard you the first time, but you seem to be the only one trying to make this into something its not.
No disrespect to the young lives that were lost, but IMHO, this is simply a case of stupidity and not respecting the river and its conditions. Anyone that has teenagers and or young adults in their lives, know that there is a certain "air" of invincibility about them. Couple that with:
- The temperature of the water was hovering just above freezing.
- The water was high and flowing swiftly
- The Credit river can be a challenge for a paddler of ANY skill level at the best of times- add to that equation some additional obstacles such as an ice dam, and well, you do the math.
- Proper equipment was not used.
It is quite easy to surmise what has happened here... The two went for a paddle, and things were going OK, until they came upon the ice dam. Instead of going to shore, and portaging around the ice dam ON SHORE, for whatever reason, they chose to face the dam head on. Now, I don't know what everyone else thinks happens when you hit an immovable object in water, but the water you are floating in doesn't just stop! It keeps going, and tries to take you with it. That's when the boat starts to tip, and without a properly sealed, waterproof spray skirt, it doesn't take much before the boat starts to tip and take on water. Literally a split second later the entire boat is engulfed with freezing cold water, and you would have literally the same amount of time (a split second) to react, to try and not get swept under as well. IF you are quick enough to escape the boat, NOW you are fully immersed in freezing cold water without a dry suit, and without a PFD. The chances of getting swept under the ice is almost inevitable.
Judging by the pics of the kayaks, where one of the boats was almost fully engulfed by water/ ice:
I'm guessing one of them did exactly that, and the other went in to try and save the other. In just a few minutes- hypothermia would take over and its lights out.
No, I don't think there was any foul play. This is simply a matter of 2 kids, not respecting the conditions, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, without the proper equipment, skill level and smarts to over come the situation.
A similar situation last fall when Tim Kelley tried to navigate a 17' kayak through the class 3 rapids south of Streetsville Memorial Park without the proper equipment. He dumped his boat, probably because it was far too long for the narrow and fast moving rapids, but at least he was wearing a PFD... but he died of exposure regardless.
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http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/3676585I'm
Your assessment is bang on....absence of self preservation judgement, not unlike snowmobilers who run their machines on rivers/lakes atop thin ice or alternately zoom straight up mountain ridges triggering avalanches, or the boneheads who drive their vehicles on lakes to go ice fishing or the idiots who ride their motorbikes wearing shorts, sandals and tee shirts. Far from being an isolated tragic situation, this is simply yet another example of the lengths humans extend themselves to routinely, to demonstrate their stupidity. Calling them skilled paddlers is the ultimate insult to technically proficient paddling enthusiasts.. These two were outright morons
We heard you the first time, but you seem to be the only one trying to make this into something its not.
No disrespect to the young lives that were lost, but IMHO, this is simply a case of stupidity and not respecting the river and its conditions. Anyone that has teenagers and or young adults in their lives, know that there is a certain "air" of invincibility about them. Couple that with:
- The temperature of the water was hovering just above freezing.
- The water was high and flowing swiftly
- The Credit river can be a challenge for a paddler of ANY skill level at the best of times- add to that equation some additional obstacles such as an ice dam, and well, you do the math.
- Proper equipment was not used.
It is quite easy to surmise what has happened here... The two went for a paddle, and things were going OK, until they came upon the ice dam. Instead of going to shore, and portaging around the ice dam ON SHORE, for whatever reason, they chose to face the dam head on. Now, I don't know what everyone else thinks happens when you hit an immovable object in water, but the water you are floating in doesn't just stop! It keeps going, and tries to take you with it. That's when the boat starts to tip, and without a properly sealed, waterproof spray skirt, it doesn't take much before the boat starts to tip and take on water. Literally a split second later the entire boat is engulfed with freezing cold water, and you would have literally the same amount of time (a split second) to react, to try and not get swept under as well. IF you are quick enough to escape the boat, NOW you are fully immersed in freezing cold water without a dry suit, and without a PFD. The chances of getting swept under the ice is almost inevitable.
Judging by the pics of the kayaks, where one of the boats was almost fully engulfed by water/ ice:
I'm guessing one of them did exactly that, and the other went in to try and save the other. In just a few minutes- hypothermia would take over and its lights out.
No, I don't think there was any foul play. This is simply a matter of 2 kids, not respecting the conditions, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time, without the proper equipment, skill level and smarts to over come the situation.
A similar situation last fall when Tim Kelley tried to navigate a 17' kayak through the class 3 rapids south of Streetsville Memorial Park without the proper equipment. He dumped his boat, probably because it was far too long for the narrow and fast moving rapids, but at least he was wearing a PFD... but he died of exposure regardless.
Your assessment is bang on....absence of self preservation judgement, not unlike snowmobilers who run their machines on rivers/lakes atop thin ice or alternately zoom straight up mountain ridges triggering avalanches, or the boneheads who drive their vehicles on lakes to go ice fishing or the idiots who ride their motorbikes wearing shorts, sandals and tee shirts. Far from being an isolated tragic situation, this is simply yet another example of the lengths humans extend themselves to routinely, to demonstrate their stupidity. Calling them skilled paddlers is the ultimate insult to technically proficient paddling enthusiasts.. These two were outright morons
They were foolhardy young people, who believed in their own invincibility.
As Ridgeman has pointed out the proper equipment, the last place you want to paddle is a river that has areas that are iced over. This is what can happen in the worst case scenario, when you come to the edge of the ice and the river keeps wanting to take you downstream. As soon as they saw ice, they should have headed to shore and if surprised, turned and done the same. They might have tried this at the edge of the ice. The current wouldn't have done them any favours with a sideways kayak and a bit of panic, while against the ice edge.
As Ridgeman has pointed out the proper equipment, the last place you want to paddle is a river that has areas that are iced over. This is what can happen in the worst case scenario, when you come to the edge of the ice and the river keeps wanting to take you downstream. As soon as they saw ice, they should have headed to shore and if surprised, turned and done the same. They might have tried this at the edge of the ice. The current wouldn't have done them any favours with a sideways kayak and a bit of panic, while against the ice edge.
