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I had an interesting discussion recently about male ego in the sport of kayaking and in general. Often times, men wish to hide their fear when it comes to kayaking on challenging rivers where women are willing to show it because ego isn't getting in the way. Being deceptive about the level of fear one has is risky because it can lead fellow kayakers you paddle with to believe you are confident on a river you are not confident on. When this occurs, there is a good chance the male kayaker hiding his fear will be pressured or pushed into plunging into more and more difficult waters. In a recent example of this, my father told me he bets me $500 he will learn to roll within 5 attempts. He spent an hour and a half at a pool rolling session with an instructor and never came close to rolling (this was before the Hi-N-Dry came around). He then proceeded to tell me with confidence that he is ready to do class 3. Like an idiot, I took his word for it and we drove to a class 3 river only to have him swim twice before the first rapid. The group we were with told him they strongly advise against his continuing. He immediately agreed having been humbled by the water. Moving water for the first time in a kayak is tough! I learned a valuable lesson that day: don't believe lofty claims of beginners whose ego's may be speaking rather than common sense and careful consideration of caution and safety. The male ego was the culprit.
What I wonder is how the male ego will affect the reception of the Hi-N-Dry as a new gear option for kayakers as well as the purchase of the Hi-N-Dry by males. From what I gather, females are courageous about expressing their fear regardless of what others may think and guess what? They don't get teased for this. It is impressive to me when I observe someone being honest about a feeling that could be embarrassing. So females are more equipped I would imagine to receive the Hi-N-Dry as a piece of gear they are willing to use despite its potential stigma as a beginner device. Males might be too concerned with image and ensuring everyone thinks they are skilled beyond what their actual skills may be. This could be unfortunate for many males because they will miss out on the rich benefits that many are reaping through the use of Hi-N-Dries. With the Hi-N-Dry strapped on, fears just drop away and the fun begins! For my dad and I, instead of pretending we aren't afraid, we really do feel less and less afraid. That said, we have learned and continue to learn that rivers are no joke when it comes to dangers. It is so important to paddle with experienced kayakers who can teach you lines, show you technique, and give you the wealth of communal knowledge that they have acquired over their many years of participating in the sport.
I strongly encourage any kayaker to put aside their egos and give the Hi-N-Dry a shot. It makes kayaking so much more enjoyable... unless you really have a passion for wet exits and boat dumping! On that note, I read some great advice on a forum recently: people should not be afraid to swim because of what others may think. We all have to start somewhere. The same applies to a Hi-N-Dry. Using one should not be embarrassing. We all start somewhere. Don't let ego get in the way of enjoying the Hi-N-Dry. Just have fun!
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| Updated May 21, 2012 |  | | | |
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