The equivalent to someone sneaking up would be a couple of seal pups clambering up on the aft deck. The video of it shows me bracing viciously but if I'd been asked about it at the time, quite possibly I'd not have noticed much, just instinctive bracing - that's how your bracing becomes if you paddle a very tippy kayak. And I agree with magooch to some extent, one doesn't have to paddle in extreme conditions to still have skills.

Alex