ThePADDLER 132
ON THE TRAIL
It is essential to manage the group dynamics from paddlers who get distracted by river features or who simply are falling off the planned pace on the journey . Having communications and paddling protocol agreed upon before the group separates or faces an incident is critical . As a nominated leader ( even informally ), we tend to use an acronym called CLAP .
Communications – on the move , visual , verbal and effective . Line of sight – agree on boundaries , position the group , so it remains together . Avoidance – follow lines and a course to avoid hazards and obstacles . Position of most use – anticipate hazards , issues and be in the best location … as if by magic .
As things unfold , the wind picks up , wavelets increase to white caps or river features and flow seem pushy , it is crucial to know where your limits are . When we sea kayaked the Inside Passage , 1,000 miles from Vancouver to Alaska , we paddled all conditions up to a Force 6 , and our longest paddle was 62 miles through the night . Conversely , we met less experienced paddlers who got off the water once they saw any waves on the surface , which kept them in their safety zone .
Group dynamics can definitely play a part in the enjoyment and achieving of your goals . As part of this , we have found understanding people ’ s expectations and needs is important . From basic admin such as toilet breaks to monitoring energy levels , it can all derail your plans . One of our simple tricks to manage group well-being is to ask people how they feel out of
10 . Changes in scores are a great indicator and can lead us to change plans before people are pushed too far . The team ’ s other important aspect is identifying roles , from safety to vehicle shuttles through to other tasks , head chef , water provider , ‘ King of Faff ’ and firelighter . We threw in ‘ King of Faff ’ to help you identify potential culprits in your group who might hinder your pace or timekeeping .
MAKE A PLAN AND EXPLORE OUR WATERY WORLD
As lockdown ends and we can travel further afield , it ’ s time to explore our UK waters and see the Great of Great Britain . Hopefully , this article will empower you to plan some iconic trips , maybe paddling a coastal location , heading to historical places to find that living history feeling or connecting with nature . Set goals and keep challenging yourself to improve skills , endurance , fitness , or just to put a smile across your face . To quote Marcel Proust , “ The real voyage of discovery consists , not in seeking new landscapes , but having new eyes .”