Dave Williams wrote (as part of a post on another subject) >I'm not overly familiar with the BCU schemes, but from what I've >seen of it, I'm also not overly impressed. It does have it's place and it >serves to educate the masses. But with all such 'big league' organizations, >it's gonna have its drawbacks... such as personal attention to individuals I >reckon'. Individual instructors may be more or less attentive and helpful, but I'm compelled to respond to Dave's "blowing off" BCU and other standards-based training programs. I've been lucky enough to receive a fair amount of instruction within the BCU structure, and I think it's been invaluable. While I've had great teachers and some not so great, but I've had to perform up to standard during assessments. The skills acquired during this training have proven their utility in all the extremes: in the marshes and in the surf. BCU training doesn't involve only individual paddling skills. I've been through many training and practice sessions that targeted rescue and leadership skills. These, too, have proven their worth in 'real conditions.' Because of this training, it is much less likely that my wife and I, and many of the folks we paddle with, might find ourselves in the compromising conditions that have been the subject of so many of the interesting and informative posts to this list. I truly don't want this post to start a pro-con thread on BCU, ACA and so forth. I'm writing just to let it be known that there are paddlers out here who value such training very highly. Bob Volin bobvolin_at_bestweb.net ;-> There cannot be a crisis this week; my schedule is already full. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Williams wrote (as part of a post on another subject) >I'm not overly familiar with the BCU schemes, but from what I've seen of it, I'm also not overly impressed. It does have it's place and it serves to educate the masses. But with all such 'big league' organizations, it's gonna have its drawbacks... such as personal attention to individuals I reckon'. Bob wrote: >Individual instructors may be more or less attentive and helpful, but I'm compelled to respond to Dave's "blowing off" BCU and other standards-based training programs. Golly gosh Mr. Bob, how do you come up with the term "blowing off" from what I said? "Not overly impressed" hardly justifies a "blowing off" reply. I'm sorry if you misunderstood my intention. I'm sure the BCU in general is very capable of teaching a paddler a lot of valuable techniques and essential information. I didn't mean that they aren't capable of personal attention. However, logically, if a group is big, the teaching is less personal due in part to time constraints. Does that make sense? If so, then that's what I meant. :-) BTW, I'd really like to take some BCU and/or ACA courses. I'm sure I'd benefit from it. The problem is, there aren't any that I know of here in Thailand. Cheers, Dave Dave Williams dave_at_paddleasia.com http://paddleasia.com Phuket, Thailand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave (& all).. Sorry I overreacted to your comments re BCU training. Just one more point & let it go: BCU coach training emphasizes the point that a coach must give each student *individual* attention, even during group training. If a candidate for coach certification fails, during the assessment, to provide adequate individualized attention and comments to each student, the candidate does not become a coach. I imagine that Thailand might have some compensations to make up for the lack of BCU/ACA coaches..... ;-> -Bob V *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 9/20/99 8:42:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th writes: << The problem is, there aren't any that I know of here in Thailand. >> Start your own certification program TKA. The grades can be *Milded, **Spicy, ** **Hot, **** Super Hot. Like the Thai restaurant food in Seattle. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I'll be off of the list for about 9 days. I'm off to Laos! I'll be hunting for nice rivers close to Vientiane for future trips. Vientiane is one of my favorite towns in southeast Asia... great food, cheap beer, nice small hotels, and super-friendly people. If I find something really interesting, I'll write up a trip report. I'll catch up with everyone upon my return. Cheers, Dave Dave Williams dave_at_paddleasia.com http://paddleasia.com Phuket, Thailand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:03 PDT