Re: [Paddlewise] ACA Greenland certification

From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 10:18:38 -0400
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:

>  While "sea
> kayaking" is being taught without any particular style name attached to
> it, it too has a spectrum of styles and approaches.  And some of it can
> be quite doctrinaire.  Take assisted rescues involving 1 kayaker
> assisting a capsized kayaker to get back into his/her kayak.  I know of
> about five different approaches to this.  But, boy, trying doing one
> that the instructor doesn't favor and you get tongue-lashed and put down
> immediately.  

I would suggest that this is a function of the instructor, and not the
body that accredited him or her.

> Years ago, a double kayak went over in NY harbor right off the Battery
> on Fleet Week with hundreds of motorboats whizzing around.  The group
> leader approached the situation and then started debating which method
> would work best.  Should he do this one or that one, blah, blah, blah.

There is an amusing vignette in "Performance Sea Kayaking" that
demonstrates this sort of event. It's funny to watch Kent Ford
floundering in the water while 3 experts debate rescure methodologies.

I confess that IU have been known to do exactly what the group leader
did, but only in calm water and with learners. It's called "the
teachable moment." However, when I got dumped by a boomer in Tomales
Bay, just off the point, I was grateful that my instructor said "In the
boat. Now!" and got our butts out of there.

Steve Cramer
Test Scoring and Reporting Services
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-5593
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Wed Jul 07 1999 - 07:14:30 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:10 PDT