NYCkayaker Anyone doing this Sunday's Governors Island Swim support?

[john mcgarvey]

there is a reason for the kayaker boycott of these swim races.   
despite countless meetings and promises over very many years, it's the  
same old story.

it used to be one of my most favorite kayak experiences, partially due  
to the adrenaline rush of chaotic rescues.  sorry to be harsh, but  
aside from the safety horrors, i can't think of any redeeming values  
for volunteering for this swim group.  i would LOVE to have other  
groups formed, along with the Triathlon, Paul's LI swim, upper Hudson  
swims, Brooklyn swim, etc.

golly, speaking as an old timer after all these years, there should be  
a club of reformed NYCSwim kayak support leaders.  hee hee, we should  
make a list...  or jeez, just a FAQ to respond every time this comes  
up. Ralph,, Nancy,  etc. anybody want to write a FAQ?

sorry, rant over.  hope to see you guys at Governor's Island for the  
Figment Festival to check out Harry Spitz's amazing chalk art.  He is  
expanding to multiple spots tomorrow and having interactive  
participation, which is one of the fundamentals of the event.
~j

John McGarvey
917-572-0206
http://thegreatestsilence.org/
http://licboathouse.org/
http://www.actionartsleague.org/
http://thewaterpod.org/






On Jun 28, 2008, at 1:23 PM, David Gottlieb wrote:

> Yes, I have been discouraged by the way I have been treated, as a  
> paddler,
> during some swim events. Kayakers are integral to the individual  
> swimmers
> success or failure. The skills of the kayakers to guide their  
> swimmer in the
> water can be key to the swimmers time it takes to get to the finish  
> line.
> Plus we have to often communicate with police, race officials and  
> power
> boaters on our GPS. I have found that it is really a team effort  
> between the
> kayaker and the swimmer. If I make a mistake in a Hudson River  
> crossing and
> tell my swimmer to move to the left instead of the right I could  
> cause him
> to lose time.
>
> So, yes, we get very little credit, very little appreciation from most
> organizers. Perhaps those of us who like to participate in these swims
> should go ahead and set up some meetings with the organizers of  
> these events
> so we can put an end to this "dis-ing."And perhaps the paddlers who
> correctly aide their swimmer can also be recognized as an important  
> part of
> the race.
>
> David
>
>
> On 6/28/08 7:50 AM, "peter riley" <priley at amnh.org> wrote:
>
>> this is typical of how the race organizers operate. they need the  
>> kayakers
>> but do very little to support us.
>>
>>>
>>> Anyone doing this Sunday's Governors Island Swim as kayak  
>>> supports? Can
>>> one paddle over? If so, where to launch and land?
>>>
>>> I've signed up to do the support a while back and had the date  
>>> freed up.
>>> But when the organizer announce the ferry schedule, they wanted  
>>> immediate
>>> responds to reserve a spot! When I blink, I missed the window...
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>> service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River  
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>>
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>
> **********************************************************************
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> is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson  
> River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
>
> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:
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>