Editorial: Winter Paddling

February-March 1995

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Alan Wilson

It's been a wet and woolly winter on the west coast this year. Fortunately we did get a break from the rain in the week after Christmas when it was sunny for days on end. Even though the temperature plummeted at night, the sun shone brightly all day.

Each day the south-facing glass on our house had the whole place bright and toasty, while outside the trees were glazed with a shimmering hoar frost from the moisture in the air.

The scene was so spectacular it drew me out paddling, with friends, at different spots around the island, all week.

It was delightful to get outdoors, to slip into the cockpit and enter a more fluid realm, feelings its forces through the thin skin of the hull, coordinating my energies with its. And to feel the sun.

Wherever there were patches of shade, the unthawed frost added lacy highlights to the already intricate chaos of the weathered shore rock - pocked and cracked and smoothed. But where the warmth shone down, birds and seals splashed about and we luxuriated.

We paddled along, now chatting, planning future paddling trips, now drifting quietly in the sun, enjoying the fact that we had the water all to ourselves. Feeling overdressed, a layer was shed here and there. A camera appeared. Laughter rang out. Joy surged.

Of course, in the back of our minds, as we lolled about in our boats, inches from the water, we knew full well that the sea itself was still frigid.

That's the down-side of cold weather paddling - the risks it poses for the unprepared or unaccompanied paddler. Winter paddling is often wonderful - if you choose nice days - but it can be still be dangerous. Clearly you need to dress for the weather and be sure you are prepared in the event of an accident.

Safety is simple - you need good advice and instruction. For those of you just getting into paddling, learn all you can from those with experience. Take a course. Paddle with a friend or a group. Get to know the environment you're going out into and the gear you are using. Listen to the weather radio. Read the chart and tide tables.

At WaveLength, we consider safety a major part of our mandate. And, in fact, the paddling community as a whole is remarkably devoted to education and safety.

In this issue we present some close calls and some good advice from experts, and review some of the gear which helps to increase the safety of off-season paddling.

We also encourage you to take part, this spring, in events which offer on-shore and on-water workshops to help you learn what you need to know and how to prepare yourself properly.

Two events for those of us on the west coast are the Sea Kayaking Association of BC's annual Symposium (May long weekend, 19-22) on Thetis Island, and our own Ocean Kayak Festival on Gabriola Island, June 16-18.

There are also other events such as the TASK Symposium in Port Townsend, Washington in September (one of various symposia across the continent at various times throughout the paddling season) and many excellent courses offered commercially by retailers and outfitters (see ads in this issue).

There's a lot to learn but also lot's of time ahead. The main paddling season is still months away. In the meantime...well, if you paddle when the weather's good and you're well-prepared for cold conditions, it can be fantastic out there.

Take care and have fun.