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

[peter riley]

As one who has done 4 years with MIF; I qualify as an old timer also.
This year they have tried something different. No meetings, no contact, no
word at all. Others who intended to assist have reported the same. I like
the idea of a support group for ex NYCSwim coordinators and volunteers.
I can't say how many times questions were ignored with no reason.
This year I am restricting myself to the MIMS swim having withdrawn last
week from Governor's Island. The issue of transport has been consistently
ignored and I decided it was enough.

> 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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>>>
>>> **********************************************************************
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>>> service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River
>>> Watertrail
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>>
>> **********************************************************************
>> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and
>> is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson
>> River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
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>
>