Very good stuff there. I do a canoe race every early march, Scantic Splash up in Somers/enfield. Have done it the past 3 or 4 years now and have dumped it every time. Stupidity or laziness of a college student and not getting a wetsuit,going shirtless, just shorts, sneakers, helmet and the obvious lifejacket. That immediate hit when u get when you hit that water never gets old. We dumped it early in the race last year, by the end, with out paddles I may add, twenty five minutes or so ,when we fell in at the end, rescue guys had to get me, couldnt swim, body basically shut down. Very helpless feeling. For anyone that thinks they are non destructive....( us younger crowd ) take a run in the canoe with me like last year, reality hits home quick.