Psychotow. PHOTO: LYN STONE
SAFETY BY SHARON & ALEC BLOYD-PESHKIN
sturdy carabiner as well as a short, deck-mounted tow rope with a quick-release, and we use them to help paddlers who are exhausted, overwhelmed, injured, or drifting into a danger zone. We wouldn’t paddle without these essential
pieces of safety equipment. But sometimes, we can best help a timid or tired paddler with the most powerful piece of equipment in anyone’s kit: the mind. Robert Schrack, co-owner and chief in-
structor at Adventure Crafters paddle centre in Maryland, coined the term “psychological tow” to explain this technique. If you’re an instruc- tor or guide, or a skilled paddler who has taken less experienced people out on the water, you may already have used this tow without real- izing it. But recognizing what it is and when it’s appropriate can enable you to bring it out more quickly and use it more effectively. Frequently, inexperienced paddlers reach
their limits before others in a group. Tey may be freaked out by waves or wind, or simply tired out by too much exertion or the conditions they find themselves in, and they need some help to complete the planned journey. You can usually see evidence in their posture, strokes and de- meanor. Tey may lag behind the group, wob- ble, use tentative strokes or be unusually quiet.
Events
May 14–16 National Sea Kayak Symposium Palmer Rapids, ON
www.adventurekay-
akmag.com
June 11–13 2010 Intermedi- ate Rough Water Symposium Port Judith, RI
www.maineisland-
kayak.com/sympo- sium.html
Mind over Matter W
SOMETIMES, TOWING IS A MENTAL SKILL
hen we consider towing, we tend to think about rope. We carry a tow belt with a
We’re often taught that this is the time to
tow them. Sometimes it is. But doing so has a downside: It can embarrass or discourage the struggling paddler when he may be capable of rising to the challenge. And in the case of rough water, it might make things worse. Instead, you can use the psychological tow:
“Keep going. Keep your hips loose. Tat’s great. Keep paddling. Nice work. It’ll be easier if you get your entire blade in the water.” You can instruct them a bit, encourage them
a lot, and help them focus ahead on where you’re going instead of on where they are. “You see that tower? We’re going to land just to the right of it.” You can also point out interesting features of the place you’re paddling. “Tat lighthouse over there has the largest Fresnel lens on the Great Lakes.” By paddling close to them and sounding relaxed, offering a mix of small talk and advice, you can enable them to make it on their own. Tat’s the psychological tow. Having a term
for it is not only satisfying, in the same way as knowing the names of birds or mushrooms. It’s practical. By placing the psychological tow in the cat-
egory of tows, it reminds us to try this first before a more invasive intervention. And it gives the struggling paddler a well-earned sense of accomplishment.
June 12–13 MEC Paddlefest Toronto Toronto, ON
www.mec. ca/paddlefest
July 15–18 Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium Grand Marais, MI
www.downwind-
sports.com/glsks.html
July 17 The Blackburn Challenge Cape Ann, MA www.black-
burnchallenge.com For a full event listing go to
www.adventurekayakmag.com www.adventurekayakmag.com 15
ALUMINUM KAYAK/ CANOE TRAILERS
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