Skykomish kayaker resuced

ok here's another one. we really need to start pushing our community for more safety and rough water training.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Kayaker-rescued-from-Skykomish-River-151265055.html

Well, at least he was wearing a PFD and a drysuit.  Sharks don't scare me, fast moving water does.

So what can be done?

Stay out of swift moving water until you have experience. Take a whitewater class. Work your way up starting with class I whitewater.  Scout the river so you know what you will be going through.  I'm sure there are some whitewater kayakers here that have more info and suggestions.

Let's have a field trip! We need to do some recovery practice as well. Who's up for organizing one?

I am hoping that this was not one of our members, or someone who has been influenced by our site and decided they could handle the river no problem.

there's a reason we say there is safety in numbers when we go out. this is a good example of that.

I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and I never claimed to be a kayaking pro...and never will.  But, IMO you gotta work into your comfort zone (not dive), and train for the absolute worst. 

Through all of my military training, I learned the best way to get good at something was to learn the task and then envision yourself doing it over and over in your head. 

By that I mean, you learn the task (self rescue...hands on in the water in a controlled-as-you-can-get environment, preferably using the buddy system...we don't wanna be a statistic while training not to be a statistic) then later at home on the couch...or wherever...close your eyes and go through the motions repeatedly (see the task in your head, and physically go through the motions...space permitting as much as you can). 
The more you envision yourself performing the task, (and with practice of course) the more natural that task is when the SHTF...
You can do this anywhere, and between hands on and the mental practice will get to an almost natural reaction state rather quickly.

Unfortunately, I know this type of training works all too well...

Disclaimers:
1-  Envisioning a task is NEVER enough...it just re-emphasizes the hands on training and keeps it fresh in your head.  You have to train hands on...for us that means "you gonna get wet"...alot
     (If you don't want to train to save you own life, I'll be more than happy to take a look at any of the tackle and gear you have...I'll pick it up later)

2-  Closing your eyes and going through the motions of righting your kayak and getting back on will get you very weird and disturbing looks if done in public.
All the guy sitting in the car next to you at that stop light sees is some nut-case sitting there with his eyes closed flailing his arms around.  (But who cares...he's probably the poor JA that doesn't even own a fishing rod)

Always train for the WORST...and hope for the best.