Eskimo Roll vs Pontoon self rescue

There are actually no conflicts between the two, Eskimoe Roll vs. Pontoon/Paddle Floater systems. But if one is to read the different debate forums one can easily get that impression.

Should for example a car seat belt, all wheel drive, air bag, air conditioning and ABS brakes be in conflict with each other? They all have different functions in different situations, some for improved safety, others for increased comfort.

Is one a coward, if one is driving a car using air bags?

The necessity of The Eskimo Roll, the Pontoon, their functions, usage areas etc. is not what is under debate, but something deeper and more sublime.

I should of course be better off as a sales person if I were to sell a kayak that require the customer to take a course and if I can get the customer to pay for additional courses, then my profit picture is even better. If the customer then comes to the realization that it was not such a good decision to purchase a kayak with a small cockpit, then I can sell him/her another kayak with a large cockpit and accessories and maybe some additional courses in the use of pontoons etc.

There are some people that in this way makes their living from others ignorance. But what is even worse is that there are some overbearing males that rank each other by their ability to execute breakneck exercises and the ticket into this club is the Eskimo Roll.

What turns into a problem is that this club sets the tone in this debate and that all arguments against should undermine their position, and that is looked upon as a big threat, that must be fought in every way.

We all have to put aside our economical interests and personal prestige in order to promote safety in the continued development of our sport. We cannot allow that lives are put at risk and people turned off from getting into the paddle sport. I have met people who have not wanted to get into the paddle sport because they have tried a tippy racing kayak and belive that having a skill in Eskimo Roll is necessary in order to be able to enjoy a paddle tour on the lake. I have also heard about incidents where somebody has been involved in a near fatal accident. You will also hear about relatives that will not allow their loved ones into the paddle sport because they worry about the dangers of the sport, which for some has the macho image and to others as of foolhardiness.

Some time ago I got this email and it explains a lot:

"Hi, My name is Steen Slumstrup. I am the owner of a Seagull Offshore. I am writing this because of my friend Lars Kihlman, Väddö or Älmsta in Roslagen. I was on a kayak trip with a group in the archipelago, which is described in a newspaper article that Lars was to forward to you. Norrtälje Newspaper of Friday the 18 of July. What I want to say is that I used my Seagull in 4 - 6 m high waves (very choppy waters) to rescue 2 women. The kayak even managed to carry all three of us but when the woman at the foredeck appeared with her head near the cockpit and had her legs still in the water, it became a little difficult to maneuver. I just want to say thank you for this fantastic invention. Without the "support wheel" we had not been able to rescue these women. If you can use this in your advertisment then it is OK with me.. Thanks Sten Slumstrup"

An experienced kayaker should never put himself and other people in such a risky situation, but even the most experienced can make bad decisions and have to use everything at hand in order to save a life. If the Pontoon System had been around to save somebody's skin, then we feel that it has proven itself.

Certain sales people wish that we keep the pontoon system to ourselves and only use it as a sales argument for our own products. But we feel that safety must precede personal interests and we will therefore encourage other manufacturers to freely copy and use our system, even to the point that there would be some standardization, so the accessories can be used regardless of manufacturer. Funny enough very few have acknowledge our invitation.

It has even been said that we do not retrofit the device to other makes, this is not true. It might be that we have declined at a time when we have been overloaded with work in the busy season, but we have mounted the device on most makes with good results. There are unfortunately certain models that are not suited for this modification, but then we have the version that attaches with a strap.

An important argument for the use of the pontoons is that the kayaker can practice self rescue without putting others into a dangerous situation. To rely on the thouht that others will be there to rescue you, can put you into a false sence of security, that encourages one to take to great risks in large groups. The wind might increase when you got away from the shore or during the next day after night of camping.
One has chosen the wrong kayak if one has to continually use the pontoons. They are to be looked upon as devices for increasing safety and of kayak usage, not as some sort of "training wheels".

It is fun to be able to execute the "ROLL" and to make exercises that makes the kayaker learn to use his/her body and to find the limits of the kayak, but to trust the roll as the only safety device is filled with risks and will scare people away from the sport, rather than promote it as a source of fun and recreation.

We urge you to to co-operate with us in order to improve the accessibility of this wonderful activity and share the delight in paddling rather than discussing who is the master and who knows best.

Kåre Ankervik