Seeing Obstacles Differently

By Ben Morton, Precision Paddlesports

[Editors Note: On Thursday, February 4th at 7 pm PST, Ben Morton kicks off our Take Out Talk series with a course on Foundational Concepts for better boat control. Designed exclusively for the LCCC, the course includes a presentation on boat control concepts and techniques, along with a discussion of this article, and one more titled Scout it Out.

You must be a member of the Club to participate; joining is easy and gets you access to all of the Take Out Talks we’ll host this year. We will distribute a Zoom link to all LCCC members just prior to the talk. Whether you paddle a canoe, kayak or SUP, are just starting out or have been at it for years, Ben’s course on Foundational Concepts is for you! Check out Ben’s intro video, join the Club if you haven’t already, and we’ll see you online on Thursday, February 4th at 7 pm PST.]

TURN OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Hopefully all of us spend time scouting. But for many of us scouting can easily digress into an over emphasis on the various ‘obstacles.’  This can be true of scouting in river or sea environments. 

Scouting is an essential part of paddling that allows you to gather information to make informed decisions. An integral aspect of scouting is having the competency to understand what it is that we are seeing, including how those features may affect us.  Yet even with adequate competence and experience paddling in comparable environments, many of us still spend an immense amount of time focusing and dwelling on ‘obstacles.’

What if instead of seeing an array of ‘obstacles’ when scouting, we saw numerous ‘opportunities’ to utilize the skills that we’ve spent hours, days, months, years, and decades honing? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t identify potential obstacles and hazards. Absolutely make note of them. Then immediately begin considering the various lines that offer opportunities to use your skills and abilities. 

Ben Morton using the large wave in the center of Vinegar Rapid on the Main Salmon River as an “opportunity.”

“I don’t see obstacles when looking at a rapid , I see opportunities.”

-  Mary DeRiemer (Rogue River, 2018)

Steve Fisher made this point well in his TedTalk, ‘Breaking Down Risk.’ In the context of scouting a rapid he said, “We’re trying to establish a path or line that we’re likely to be on. And the reason we’re doing that is to eliminate the parts of the rapid that don’t affect us, the parts of the rapid where we will not be.” 

Arnaldo Cespedes solely focused on his line in Rainie Falls, Rogue River.

CREATING CONFIDENCE THROUGH COMPETENCE

We can gain the confidence to reframe obstacles as opportunities by increasing our competence. Specifically, you can build your confidence and your competence by first practicing this shift in mindset in smaller less intimidating rapids. Take time to look at rapids that you might otherwise ‘read and run,’ and go through the process of identifying various opportunities to hone your skills and bolster your confidence. 

Another method of developing competence is spending time practicing technical skills and maneuvers in forgiving and less dynamic environments. It is important to make the most of these specific targeted experiences, paying attention and taking note of what is working, what is not, and identify why (for both). By acknowledging how we are affected by the features we’re using or encountering, we increase our knowledge of the environment and gain valuable insight that will inform our scouting practice.

Nate Ostis models how body language can impact our confidence before pursuing “opportunities” in a rapid.

 Our perception is our reality. Therefore, if all we see when scouting is ‘obstacles,’ this mindset will likely have a different effect on us than if we take note of the features to avoid, and then identify the most fun and challenging maneuvers we can imagine. 

Additionally, an ‘opportunity’ that should never be overlooked is the one to carry around (portage) or launch/land somewhere else. This too requires teamwork, strength, skill, and sometimes grit.

Lastly, this concept should not of course be considered an ‘absolute.’ I’m simply sharing an idea that I hope will have a positive impact on your paddling. 

*Inspired by Ryan Holiday’s book, “The Obstacle is the Way.”