Chuck Holst wrote: >I'm with John Heath on this one. One of the questions I had when I first >heard about the proposed ACA Greenland certification was which Greenland >technique? Another, related, one was who is going to certify the >certifiers? Good question. Here is another: who certified the ones that started the ACA sea kayaking programs in the first place? American Canoe Assoc. I believe is what the ACA stands for. Looks to me they just kind of elbowed their way in to Sea Kayaking and made themselves the authority. Sorry to see so many kayakers have been sucked in lately. >Questions of respect aside (if it is possible to put them >entirely aside), probably most of what is taught as Greenland technique >in this country is of questionable authenticity. Greg Stamer has written >of the differences between Maligiaq Padilla's style and what is normally >taught as Greenland style in North America; from what I have heard, >George Gronseth, who studied Greenland style kayaking in Greenland, >teaches a much different style than that taught elsewhere in North >America. George should probably be put out of business, I don't believe anybody has ever certified him to teach poor impressionable kayaker wanabes ;-) Actually, I don't think he would let them if they tried. I sure wouldn't. On second thought that makes him a lot like the ACA, uncertified as sea kayakers. SNIP >This presents a possible cultural problem, however: >I understand that in traditional Greenland culture, children and >other people are expected to learn by themselves by observing others, >and that it is considered impolite to criticise how another person >does something. This might create obstacles to creating a standard >instructional program. However, maybe Greenland culture has changed >enough that this would no longer be a problem. I hope not. What a teaching concept!! The ACA should try to imitate THAT Greenlander skill. Matt Broze Never certified by anybody and proud of it. http://www.marinerkayaks.com Not a member of any trade association and proud of that too. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jul 06 1999 - 23:04:49 PDT
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