The Traditions
For all endeavours have their peculiarities...
Daily Observances
Pre-Paddle Protocols
"The Ritual of Readiness"
Weather app consultation (minimum 3 apps)
Coffee consumption (strictly before gear loading)
Equipment inspection (with appropriate muttering)
Car rack blessing ("Please don't let my ski fall off")
Post-Paddle Ceremonies
"The Debrief"
Mandatory coffee/hot chocolate
Elaborate retelling of minor incidents
Comparison of GPS data
Planning of next paddle (while still wet)
Equipment Traditions
"The Blessing of New Craft"
Must be witnessed by senior members
First swim must be documented
Name must be approved by council
Previous craft must not show jealousy
"The Sacred Storage"
Craft must never touch ground unnecessarily
Storage position indicates status
Rack position hierarchy must be respected
New members always get the bottom rack
Behavioral Codes
"The Paddler's Path"
1. Weather Wisdom
Never trust a single forecast
Always check conditions personally
The best conditions are when you're at work
If others are coming in, pretend you didn't see them
2. Fellowship Code
Share knowledge freely
Keep rescue stories honest(ish)
Respect all craft (even SUPs... eventually)
Support fellow paddlers (except wave thieves)
The Sacred Texts
"The Aqualiti Codex"
1. The Rules
2. The Book of Conditions
(Weather wisdom)