The friendships we make on the river are unique. My friend Rob Mock said it perfectly when he told me why he loved to paddle. He said that it didn't matter what level you were at, the people you paddle with will see you at your most vulnerable. In that instant, whether you're getting worked in a hole or swimming, they can see that true moment of fear and human weakness. We form trust and a bond in this distinct way that can only be seen in a community like ours. Whether it's happening to you or you simply bear witness and lend a helping hand, this deep understanding truly is one of the most miraculous elements of paddling.
That aspect of comradery transfers into an area of ethics that seem absent from our everyday lives. It's the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I can't speak for all of us since there are always exceptions, but I have found most paddlers hold this ideal close to their heart. Doug Ammons covers this same standard in his book, Whitewater Philosophy, when he states, "The simplest ethical acts are things you learned as a kid [...] These are respect and care for others. They include going after a swimmer, helping with shuttles, getting lost gear back to its' owner, or making room for somebody in an eddy. The most important of that underpins the others is helping those in need. This feeling, more than any other, forms the bond of the river." I, myself, have yet to have an incident where I have not been helped or that I have not helped another. It's a beautiful thing to feel obligated to assist your fellow man in such an uncertain arena as that of the river. We have all been there. We all understand.
While both friendship and ethics play such a huge part in the paddling experience, it's the attitudes of those you surround yourself with out there that makes all the difference. Yes, we are all serious about what we do, but we are also doing something that makes us the happiest people in the world. All the anxiety of real life melts away and we find nothing but pleasure in the beauty and power of the nature that surrounds us. At the end of the day, we are doing something we love, and the attitudes we have on and eventually off the water just perpetuate that. It's one of the reasons paddling whitewater is the sport I've chosen to pursue for the rest of my life.
So when you are driving home and you've had the worst possible day or people have just been unkind, remember that you belong to a select few that are actually trying to make the world a better place. Our love for paddling and one another makes us one of the best communities among humanity. That means something.
Gnar-Lee
I just want to thank all the amazing people I've paddled with over the years that, in a way, helped me write this. You are all incredible individuals and every day on the water with you is truly a pleasure. I appreciate all that you've shown me.
Photo by Jessica Dawn