Kevin wrote; (Large SNIP) >She was very inexperienced >(felt she didn't need experience in fact), and her rudder broke in a four >foot following sea. All turned out well, and it was a bit more complicated >than this, so don't start criticising this nugget of info, but I think it >goes to show what the general American public needs: A certification >program that provides a minimum level of competency in rough water in a >short amount of time for a generally impatient public. Is this not a problem with certification - that having gotten it that one will be competent and safe in stressful conditions? Is it appropriate to cater to the general public's need for instant gratification? Can good judgement be taught so quickly without a range of experience to support that judgement? Does being able to demonstrate skills mean one is ready for any challenge? While the BCU requirement of having done a long trip is useful, there are long trips and there are long trips. One can paddle for years and never once experience one of those gut wrenching situations that tell you exactly how little you know or can do. My preference would be for a system that simply says that one has demonstrated a skill but not one that says that having demonstrated that skill that one is ready for a specific type of paddling experience. (either implied or expressed). The BCU method implies that one is capable of long trips simply because one has done one. Is that valid? I wonder if the implied message that one is a "kayaker" after completing one of these courses is not a bit dangerous. On another note, Ari mentioned capsizing his Nordkapp while learning to paddle it. I find it interesting that capsizing seems to be an integral part in learning how to paddle a boat that is reputed to be so seaworthy. It would be interesting to start another thread that defines what characteristics a high performance sea kayak would possess. I wonder if ease of capsize is one of them and wonder if the rest cannot be achieved with more stable boats. 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 Tue Oct 06 1998 - 05:08:57 PDT
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