Which type are you?

[Barefootwander]

On a recent paddling day down the Ocoee with some new found friends. I got into a discussion with one of about the attitude after a swim. Whether a big long nasty swim or just a 'Hey I'm retarded and can't believe I just did that swim'.....Which attitude is yours? Are to shaken up and get timid and down on yourself some a swim? Or do you get pissed at the fact that you swim and take the same big lines and try to prove yourself to yourself again?

So which is it?

I for one get pissed and try to not do the same dumb-ass thing again.

And don't say that you don't swim..... everybody does it. Just some not as frequent as others.

[dan cash]

I have to say that I'm a little of both and that it would have to do a lot with the swim. Swimming after being chundered in a massive hole? Understandable. Laugh it off. Swimming because 5 roll attempts failed in a class III? (or worse: at a park-n-play spot!) That tends to take the confidence down a notch. But I agree, go out and do the same move again and succeed or nail a few rolls and shake it off. We're all inbetween swims, right?
By the by, is this in regards to the high water inducing double release that was on the Ocoee recently? (I believe all the swims had something to do with a pinned kayaker)

[DylanT]

Swims definitely humble me. I reconsider whether or not I belong on the run, and I tend to lose a bit of sleep rehashing the beatdown.

However, I usually feel the need to redeem myself, and I go back and try and paddle a good line at the place of hammering.

So....I am a bit of both?

[Craig Leonardi]

Never happy after a swim, but always happy that it was "just" a swim.

[Ben Whittle]

I haven't had to swim in along time but I am hoping that I will be able to just laugh it off. In truth I know that I will be shaken up about it and more then likely will be pissed off too. But hey we are all in between swims aren't we. to steal a line from my good freind Mr. Cash.

[David Crowley]

I`m alwys pissed at myself for having a swim, my home river is shallow in most of the pool drop rapids and very boney, since I do not have a bomb proof roll, My bigest trick is `Do Not Fall over! that works most of the time. Ive had very long swims in high water and some in water that is too low to roll and too shallow to kick out, thus bumping my head as I go down from pour over to pour over. this summer is the one to learn that bomb proof roll, as the Zambezi is calling! i`m taking a team there in october for the Zambezi challenge Rafting festival and will be taking a South African built inflatable kayak (an Otter) down the class 5 Zambezi gorge. so I`ve got to learn to roll or be happy with a long safe swim.

[Adrian Powell]

I will admit i am due for a swim as it has been a while but i do not mind swiming i do not think it is something to be taken to heart but i also will go back up take another look at the line (try to spot where i went wrong) and do it again.

[danielle]

I am a firm believer in the old addage "we are all between swims"..... class I thru V+, someone will swim at some point, if they are aggressive in the sport and pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone! Use it as an indicator, and let it drive you to always be better, faster, stronger, higher, etc!

[dan cash]

Funny that we were all talking about this. I finally got the gumption to run Glen Park Falls (Class V) on the Black River in New York. I've been looking at it all year and it was definitely pushing my limits as a paddler. All went well until the last ledge where I got flipped ankles over a**, recirculated in the hole, and had to swim. I was all smiles when I came up sev-ver-al seconds later. Too bad my paddle ran the next four rapids without me. I really need to remember to pack those hand paddles!

[LORRAINE SCATES]

If you don't swim you don't learn, and a swim cools you down. Must say I have just returned from a 15 year break, I never swam when I was younger and frequently did grade 5s. I have taken some swims lately though, but it don't bother me now, but it would have really pissed me off in my younger years. Secret is don't paddle with people that are going to laugh at you.

[Rapidninja]

I don't like to swim. I don't trust myself as much afterward because I feel like I might do it again in a worse place.

[Tanner]

i just kinda laugh
and the prove to my self that i can do it

[dale briggs]

Well, swims have been the last resort, the last 15 years(raised two daugthers) of 30 plus paddling.
I can think of 7-maybe, near deaths, of dozens not hundreds. Mostly winter flows. 3 or 4. on 100 years flood rains level. But the early training (81-89 river rescue) - was a blessing. Because of later years of hanging out with the KY. posse @ the Russell Fork and Upper Yough gang. That 'edge' influences ,pushed the price of a swim to a higher cost. Not anger, as a reaction, more concerned about learning a meaning of the exiting of my C-1.