Paddle float in the surf: I’ve practiced it in surf for my job, but seriously, if you’re in surf, it’s probably much easier to swim the kayak in. It’s a fun exercise though.

At any rate, I agree that rolling should be taught right away. It should be a primary skill. I don’t think that you’re saying to in exclusion to other techniques, but alongside other solo rescue techniques.

For this summer: I leave on May 2nd. It’s coming up fast. (I shouldn’t be surfing the Internet. I should be training. ) I have a resupply scheduled in Manistee on 06/20/09. So, I should be in South Haven a bit before that. I leave Illinois State Park Beach scheduled on 6/10, paddle around Chicago and then head up the east coast of Lake Michigan. The time frame will be in flux until I really know how fast I want to do this trip. I’ll drop you a note on Facebook in case you don’t see this

They do have their uses-

1.stabilizing an unstable kayaker after an injury. -assisting kayaker on one side, paddle float on the other.

2. breached segment. – hole in boat, fill paddlefloat, displace water from entering.

3. added full to both ends of paddle, for AMERICAN GLADIATORS!!!!

I was on the water teaching the paddle float rescue a few years ago at Grand Marais. We had some time left over at the end of the session, so I decided to let people try R&Rs with the float. Every participant who tried the technique managed to get back in the boat with a re-entry and roll. I was amazed. In almost all cases it was easier for participants to R&R than it had been to do a PFR.

Maybe we should be focusing on a paddle float R&R as an intro self-rescue. It could even be a stepping stone to a roll.

I agree most of the good coaches I have worked with do not agree with the technique. In fact I remember most of our guest speakers at WMCKA approaching me and asking why we still taught it to beginners. But here we are still discussing it. I would like to make it happen.

Thanks for your response.

Yes the videos do demonstrate that the individuals could not perform a paddle float rescue in their specific conditions. The article is asking the question, is it a false choice for newer paddlers? The video(s) are merely demonstrating that the rescue is not necessarily a good choice for paddlers as a replacement/substitute for a roll. I feel from the symposiums I have attended and some of the other instruction I have witnessed that it the PFR) is being misrepresented as such. This misrepresentation ends up putting beginners at greater risk.

I have some plans for shooting some video this spring that may illustrate the point even further. I would like to shoot some videos with friends on a number of subjects, including the paddle float rescue in surf. I think John Fleming volunteered to be my crash test dummy.

And BTW what's the countdown on the number of days to your trip? Do you know the approximate week this summer you will be passing South Haven and Saugatuck area. I would love to get out to paddle with you from South Haven to Holland if you want some company.

I'm sure I could do a paddle float rescue in the conditions shown in both of the videos. I didn't have sound on for the second, but the conditions seemed pretty tame. Certainly more tame than some of the river mouths with swell and standing waves that I've practiced the paddle float rescue in.

Skills are about practice, and even though I agree with you that rolling is faster, easier, and requires less energy, if someone practices a paddle float rescue in rough water enough, they'll develop the skill to use it in rough water.

And skills, despite being practiced, can fail. If a student's roll fails, they should have several options to get back in the boat, because the ability to stay in or get back in the boat while on the water is empowering.

The best use of a paddle float is for support during re-enter and roll. I have not yet had a student who was unable to roll with a paddle float assist but I have had many students who were unable to hoist themselves out of the water onto their deck for a paddle float rescue. Now, there are some who would argue that person should just carry a sling so they can step into it and use their leg strength to get onto their deck. More gear always equals more things to go wrong and significantly more time to execute.

I am perfectly capable of doing a paddle float rescue in particularly nasty conditions but why would I? If there is a faster, more reliable, less prone to failure method, why bother with the unquestionably less effective paddle float rescue?

I do carry a paddle float with me, but use it for the variety of purposes that Sharon pointed out. Among the most experienced coaches working 'on the sharp end' that I know; the paddle float rescue is dead and has been for quite some time.

This poor guy was paddling solo to the Isle of Shoals (off NH coast). Water temps are still very low; his body has not been recovered. I'll never paddle solo until I have an effective roll.