kevin wrote: >>>The five star system is too lenient on mediocrity. As an example the Kayak Academy teaches students the rough equivalent of 3 stars in one weekend, and the rough equivalent 5 star skills in a single five day training camp.<<<< chuck replied: >>>One difference between your proposed scheme and the BCU scheme is that you seem to think that it is possible to create a Four-Star paddler in just a few days, whereas the BCU expects you to have more than a few days paddling experience by the time you apply for the Four-Star award. In fact, you are expected to have some lengthy trips in your log book before you take the assessment.<<<< i am a firm believer that competent instruction will vastly improve the learning curve (and the various testimonials for george gronseth are such that i'm trying to figure out a way to the west coast at some point, both for my own benefit and to glean teaching wisdom). it is also my experience, both personally, and as an instructor, that time and experience in a boat, and in sea conditions, are neeeded to imprint that teaching into our mind and body so as to enable it's expression in the varied and sometimes stressful[not to say that all stress is bad 8-)] conditions that we meet on the ocean. what i am trying to say, is that while i can imagine a motivated, kinesthetically apt person developing 4 star skills(confident strokes and seamanship in up to 4 foot waves, 20 mph winds) in a 5 day training, i think for many people breaking it down into smaller steps which can be rehearsed and practised over the course over many pleasant days on the water may work better. i have examples of people who after several consecutive days paddling had really improved their skill levels, but then two weeks later, having been unable to practise, had really regressed. my sense of this is that the new motor skills had not been deeply ingrained into their system >>> Kayak Academy teaches students... the rough equivalent 5 star skills in a single five day training camp.<<<< i would also suggest that the jump from 4 star to 5 star skill and knowledge level is a quantum leap that most people spend a season or two preparing for. either the academy is truly an amazing program, or our concepts of 5 star skills are quite disparate ;-). george ruta northcountry kayak 518-677-3040 *************************************************************************** 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 Mon Oct 05 1998 - 16:09:59 PDT
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