Day one water rescue conference

Today was the first of a three day class I'm taking at the conference.  It is being given by a training company from CA called Aqua 7.  In this class we are learning about using PWC's (jet ski's) as a rescue water craft (RWC) in a river environment.
While not the perfect do-all water craft, it is a very valuable tool.
After a half day of lecture, we got out on the water to run through a few skills, namely a slalom course around a series of bouys.
We started out running the course individually, then with a partner who was seated backwards and not holding on with their hands.
From there we moved on to running the course standing on one side, then ran the course again standing on the opposite side.
That followed with two on each side of the seat.
All of these runs were done for time.  The goal was to build balance and a comfort level for operating.
Unfortunatley the video of the day didn't turn out very well.

Water school

Well, sort of.  It is a swift water rescue conference, with a three day pre-conference class in a couple of different topics.
I'm talking about the IAWRP water rescue conference in South Bend IN.  This is my first time here and it should be a very interesting week.  I'll actually have something of interest to blog about for once.  If I have the time to do so.  Hopefully I'll even have some pictures and or video to share.

Here are some highlights from last year;

This is a very hands-on conference.  There is one day of lectures, then the rest is out on the river.  Most of the training is done in whats called the East Race of the St James river.  There are gates that can be used to control the water flow.  The conference ends on Saturday afternoon with what they call the rescue rodeo.  A friendly team competition of applying the skills that have been reviewed and learned during the week.
If there are any readers out there in bloogerland that are in the area, come on out and watch us have fun  train.  I'll be the guy in the drysuit and PFD.  :)

An interesting but unimportant discovery

I have an eclectic taste in music.  I like a little bit of most genre's with the exception of rap.  Unfortunately my musical ability is pretty much non-existent.  Keeping a tempo for me rivals that of Steve Martin in "The Jerk" and about the only way I can carry a tune is if it's coming out of a radio on my shoulder.
While visiting with some friends over the weekend, they shared a music video they randomly  came across on the tube of you.  It is a band called "Steam Powered Giraffe".
According to the wikipedia page, they were formed in 2008 and is popular in the steampunk subculture.  They are also trained as mimes, which is evident in their antics as steam powered robots.  They have also created a backstory for the band, which I also find interesting.
Their harmonizing is quite amazing as well as the voice range of the guitar player.
I can't say that I would want to listen to them all the time, but they are a nice change of pace.
Enjoy!

Oops! wrong holiday!