Kevin and others wrote about certification ; I too would agree that there is something lacking (or too much of certain things) in most certification courses. The biggest failing (to my mind) shows up in a rather narrow view of kayaking. For example, Kevin mentioned the eskimo roll as something that might be required. Many boats just cannot be rolled efficiently and requiring a roll for a person paddling a Klepper may be unreasonable. In my discussions with some (not all) BCU coaches it seemed they only recognized British boats as being "real" kayaks. Some will not teach a course unless one uses their boats. One might ask what good such a course is to a person who will never use that type of boat. The problem with paddles and paddling styles reflects a simliar narrow and arbirtrary focus. What do we expect certification to accomplish? What do "levels" accomplish in the goal toof teaching skills? Are they needed or useful? Does having a certificate lead people into danger? The old "I have a certificate therefor I am hot stuff" syndrome keeps surfacing. Does a certificate say more than it should? While setting up my safety web page I realized that I backed myself into a corner trying to find certificate levels to match to conditions. I did it but didn't like it. Does having reached a certain level in a course really mean you are competent to paddle in certain conditions? I cannot help wondering if kayak and canoe instruction wouldn't serve better if they were a continuum with no specific or defined levels. One starts at the bottom and acquires skills in the order and to the degree one needs. Eventually the little light might go on and the paddler realizes he not only has all the skills he might need but also has the experience to make clear headed decisions. A piece of paper may say the same thiing but would it be so? Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Oct 04 1998 - 07:59:46 PDT
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