How young is too young? Deep breath needed . . .
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm
There is always some element of risk involved in being on the water, be it in a canoe, a rowboat, or a cruise ship. The risk is generally greater on moving water. However, I do not see a lot of difference between having an infant in a rowboat on a lake and having an infant in a canoe on moving water provided the adults (plural on purpose) in the canoe have lots of moving water experience.
That being said, there is no way to assess, visually, whether or not the adults taking an infant down the river have sufficient experience to be doing so. There are some clues, of course, but they are not foolproof. For instance, I would be concerned if I saw an infant on whitewater (even where all involved were in PFD's) if the adults were sitting up on the seats, with their top hands below the T-grips, wearing jeans, etc. In such a situation, I would be inclined to believe that these adults did not know the risks and did not have sufficient experience, and I would want them (for the sake of the infant) to benefit from my experience and I would attempt to speak with them. But the reality is that I do not know, based on only what I see, that adults who are kneeling, holding the paddle correctly, and wearing "normal" outdoor gear have sufficient experience either. Suppose their technique or boat control is not that great. Where should that line of casual intervention be drawn? It ain't easy.
A related issue (somewhat different than Louie's original question), has to do with youngsters attempting certain whitewater feats on their own. I confess that I do get a little concerned about the "youngest to do ______" status. It's great that a youngster runs Nantahala Falls or Baby Falls or Great Falls so long as it is part of their natural progression as a paddler, attempted when the conditions are right and with appropriate safety precautions (just as should be the case for adults). Again, based only on what I see, I do not know whether the youngster is at that point in his or her progression or is being pushed into something he or she is not prepared for. When I see such a situation, should I keep my concerns to myself because it is a free country where people can do what they want, or do I have some obligation to the sport and to my own conscience to speak up in a respectful manner? It can be a hard choice.
The point in this ramble is this: Perhaps we should all cut some slack to both the folks who are skeptical about infants or youngsters on whitewater AND the folks who are encouraging and watching over them. Both groups have good motives at heart.
That being said, there is no way to assess, visually, whether or not the adults taking an infant down the river have sufficient experience to be doing so. There are some clues, of course, but they are not foolproof. For instance, I would be concerned if I saw an infant on whitewater (even where all involved were in PFD's) if the adults were sitting up on the seats, with their top hands below the T-grips, wearing jeans, etc. In such a situation, I would be inclined to believe that these adults did not know the risks and did not have sufficient experience, and I would want them (for the sake of the infant) to benefit from my experience and I would attempt to speak with them. But the reality is that I do not know, based on only what I see, that adults who are kneeling, holding the paddle correctly, and wearing "normal" outdoor gear have sufficient experience either. Suppose their technique or boat control is not that great. Where should that line of casual intervention be drawn? It ain't easy.
A related issue (somewhat different than Louie's original question), has to do with youngsters attempting certain whitewater feats on their own. I confess that I do get a little concerned about the "youngest to do ______" status. It's great that a youngster runs Nantahala Falls or Baby Falls or Great Falls so long as it is part of their natural progression as a paddler, attempted when the conditions are right and with appropriate safety precautions (just as should be the case for adults). Again, based only on what I see, I do not know whether the youngster is at that point in his or her progression or is being pushed into something he or she is not prepared for. When I see such a situation, should I keep my concerns to myself because it is a free country where people can do what they want, or do I have some obligation to the sport and to my own conscience to speak up in a respectful manner? It can be a hard choice.
The point in this ramble is this: Perhaps we should all cut some slack to both the folks who are skeptical about infants or youngsters on whitewater AND the folks who are encouraging and watching over them. Both groups have good motives at heart.