Re: [Paddlewise] Under The Waves-Hand Holders

Some of the responses to Duane's post have addressed the issue of how and
why it's important to learn surf techniques, but I'd like to share some
thoughts on the process of learning new motor skills (which only partly
apply to surf, but address some of Duane's comments):

Others posters alluded to differrent learning styles - one way of
classifying learning styles is to divide learning styles into four 
groups:  Doers, Feelers,  Watchers,  and Thinkers.  These categories are
not mutually exclusive, but rather describe how people learn *new* motor
skills - and how an instructor can best help people learn new skills.  

I'll certainly agree that after the skill is learned, there is no
substitute for practice, practice, and more practice, which internalizes
the skill so that it becomes instinctive.  (and also provides the basis for
expanding that skill into new applications - e.g. transferring a flatwater
or rolling wave brace into a surfing situation)

>From Duane's post, it's evident that he is a Doer, can't stand to listen to
any extensive instruction, and is chomping at the bit to just get out and
*do* any new activity.  Duane, accept that others do not learn the same way
as you do.

Duane wrote:
> Those who want to be held by the hand will never become skilled 
> kayakers, because they don't have the guts it takes to learn this sport. 
>
Disagree.  In the (WW) classes I've taught, I've had two students in
particular who were *deathly* afraid of getting their heads wet - in or out
of a boat.  Don't ask me why they were even taking a kayaking class.  One
dropped out of the class after I did some 'hand-holding' and finally got
the student to tip over and do a wet exit.  That student never asked for a
refund of a portion of the course fee, and I suspect was perfectly happy
having gained a new skill (diminutive as it may seem for most other
people), while at the same time realizing that this sport was not for
him/her.  The other student overcame the fear - again with a significant
amount of 'hand-holding' - and has gone on to become an accomplished
kayaker.  


> amazing how anal, methodical, and even sterile sea kayak instruction has 
> become.  Has it gone too far?  I can't help but think that the real
purpose 
> of this kind of instruction is to show the students how experienced and 
> knowledgeable the instructor is rather than to help the students gain 
> experience and knowledge.  
>  
I'll agree that some instructors like to show the world how good they are,
as do many non-instructors - by 'showing off' their skills.  I'd venture a
guess, however, that many instructors always ask for feedback after a
class, and try their damnest to address most reasonable student
comments/critiques in subsequent clinics.  It's pretty amazing how the
student comments sometimes differ so greatly - one sometimes wonders
whether the students were in the same class/clinic :-)  But this also
further substantiates the notion that there are different learning styles 
and personal expectations of what kayaking is all about.  But if the same
comment is seen in the critiques of a majority of the students, then it's
time for the instructor to take note.

In my estimation, good instructors can, after working with students for a
while, pick out the learning style(s) of that student,  and can also
explain the same thing three or four or six different ways - each geared
toward a particular learning style, or just using different words that
might help provide the "Aha!" moment for the student.  Good paddlers do not
necessarily make good instructors, and good instructors are not necessarily
the best paddlers.

To echo the sentiment of others, I thought that Doug's surf
instruction was well thought out, and provided the skills broken down into
bite-sized and easily digestable segments.  Doug - Thanks for sharing!

The other comments about limiting liability - particularly for folks who
teach for a business entity - are important to consider.  For such folks,
it is very important that new skills be taught in a logical and
standardized progression, which provides the best defense against a
lawsuit.

Regards,
Erik Sprenne
(at the southern end of Lake Michigan)
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