>Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 11:10:00 -0600 >From: "Robert C. Cline" <rccline_at_swbell.net> >Subject: Re: Teaching >To: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca> >Doug, you have my permission to post my reply on Paddlwise if you you think >it appropriate. > >> From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_bc.sympatico.ca> >> Hi Robert: >> >> My server has been down, sorry for delay in response; and I also lost PW >> for a couple of days. I hope to get back on later tonight (SAT). >> >> >> At 04:49 AM 1/15/00 -0600, you wrote: >>> Doug: >>> >>> You teach! I'd like to know more about your teaching. I am an intermediate >>> paddler and I am interested in increasing my skill level. I have enjoyed my >>> introduction to tidal races and rapids with Gronseth. >> >> What did you think of the course with Gronseth? Was it just the usual - >> crossing eddy lines and stuff? > >I thought George's course was excellent, particularly for intro into >advanced paddling. George is a fast track instructor. He has his own >teaching style and his own very studied opinion about teaching basic paddle >strokes. George is very fastidious about the stroke. He has given a lot of >thought into how the stroke, the braces etc. are to be performed to prevent >to paddler from getting into a paddle position that will prevent injuries. >It's a bit different from ACA style and different from BCU styles. The BCU >coach I had (Scott Williams from Florida) did not like the stern brace I was >using.. Didn't want me to use it at all. > >The Deception Pass (DP) stuff, we first practiced in smaller eddies, then >moved up to the strongest eddies we could find: moving into holes >(whirlpools). We didn't drop the bow into the hole, just paddled through >them and over the boils to get the feeling of loss of purchase in the boil >and the "squirley" feeling over a boil. The whirlpool was not strong enough >to suck you underwater over your head, but gave you a good spin, >particularly when you were out of the boat. That was fun. I was able to >cross all the eddies but one on the east side of the pass. I got hammered >in one of the eddies. Because of logistics, I had to sign up for the DP >course before the X-over. The whitewater crossover course really improved >my rough water skills and I think I would have been able to negotiate that >big eddy, if I had taken the Xover first. The three day crossover takes a >beginning paddler and moves him/her into running class three, with a leader. >It was run by Kevin Whilden who works for George, and was excellent. > >I got hammered in the eddy in Canoe Pass side of DP. It was a sharp line >that you had to cross from still water into water shooting around the >obstacle presenting a wall of water about to the top of your bended knee. I >got dumped each time I tried to cross it. George would demonstrate crossing >it even without a paddle. He had to do a rescue on me several times. That >was good experience for me too...getting belted around by the turbulent >waters. I need a bit of time working in water like that to become >comfortable in it and being able to perform rescues, rather than *being* >rescued.. > >George usually has someone else teach the course at DP. One of his students >told me that no one swam! I thought how unfortunate. Conditions in the >pass vary, but my impression was that the instructor did not push them. >George usually schedules his trainings when the pass is predicted "to >perform." These students lost a lot by not getting in over their heads. >Swimming is not so much of a humbling experience as it is an opportunity to >learn how to hold on to your mental facilities while being pelted in the >turbulence, the whirlpools and the boils.... and to escape from it! > > >> I have taken all of >>> his courses with the exception of the Open Coast expedition course. I would >>> like to enhance my skills so that I can undertake an expedition of my own in >>> the PNW, safely. I am not beyond learning more from George,... > >[Boy...that was an understatement. He, like you, would look good paddling a >log! ] > >>> ...and could easily take his high winds training and Deception Pass courses >>>over. >> >> What's his high winds training course like? I love that particular pursuit. >> Was it the usual stuff too - leaning, edging, etc, or did you gain any >> insights worth sharing? > >A lot of the focus on the course was on emergencies. We did a great bit of >surfing and rescues in the wind; practicing 180 degree turns to go back to >rescue someone. Practice towing. Proper equipment etc. It's been almost a >year. I really need to go over my notes to be more specific about the >particulars. > >My impression is that the nice thing about the River is, if you got in over >your head, i.e. over your skill level, the river would soon float you out of >it. > >I feel very fortunate to have had George as an instructor. His basic course >is excellent. > >The bad thing about the BCU training was, that it didn't start where I was, >but started over from scratch. And, keeps you at scratch for awhile. That >ultimately adds to the cost and to the time required to advance. (An >opinion of course, I realize there are other arguments.) The Brits are so >fastidious about record keeping too. I'm a bit more laid back in that >regard and find keeping up with this stuff more of a chore than a pleasure. > >At my present level, I need the safety of a stronger paddler to advance my >skills further. I need some basic skills too... perfecting the roll, >enhancing my strength. On the river, after I tired out from surfing, I >became tired... lost my roll and had to come out of the boat. That would be >a real hazard at sea. > > > >> >>> George's courses can get rather expensive, particularly the logistics of it. >>> >>> I have had one three star training, but haven't been assessed yet. I plan >>> on taking three star training again in Florida next month and hopefully the >>> assessment. ...then on with a level four training. I'm rolling >>> consistently in WW, but I can start missing them if I get tired in the sea >>> kayak. I need some polish there. I am still working on basic skills, but >>> am also working on paddling more challenging stuff, at least beyond "newbie" >>> water. >>> >>> That pretty much describes where I am. Unfortunately, the conditions here >>> in Texas aren't very challenging in comparison to the NW. Although surf can >>> be. Thus, finding water comparable to what I'd like to paddle in is a >>> difficult, if not impossible task here in Texas. >>> >>> It appears that you might be a BCU coach. Where does one subscribe to the >>> BCU periodical you mention? >> >> No, no time for coaching awards. Cost big bucks too. I just have the usual >> star stuff. My paddling buddy gets the coach magazine, and shares stuff >> with me. It is fairly expensive staying in touch with the BCU. > >>**We are working on a Canadian version now.** > > I think did communicate last year, but I didn't remember you telling me you >were into teaching. I was thinking you *weren't* into teaching. Where did >you do the BCU training? Or did you simply take the assessments without the >"training?" If you are in the loop about the push to get the BCU courses >and British boat sales into Canada, perhaps you could pass along some >contacts. I am in a bit of a toss-up career-wise and would be interested >in entertaining an investment in such a venture. I don't know much about >being able to start a business in Canada as an american or under Canadian >resident status, but the Canadians seem to have the privilege of doing so >here in the US. That part is probably not a real big hurdle. > > > >> Because I teach woodworking part time in >> addition to a full time job, I just can't afford the time to get too >> involved. I also don't enjoy teaching much kayaking - just woodworking, >> where there are no overtones of dangerous pursuits, just accepted norms for >> safety procedures. Kayaking is a lot different, as you get more experience, >> you do take on more risky trips. In woodworking, you don't increase the >> danger, just the difficulty of the project. I am much safer around novices >> in the woodworking field, than sea kayaking. >> >>> So, please advise about your coaching? >> >> The sea is my teacher. I listen, learn. I learn about life from the sea too. >> >> I like to share with people what I have learn't - aspects of safety, boat >> handling, marine hazards, understanding the "signs" of impending weather, >> how to deal with panic and emergencies, using back-up rescue safety >> equipment. I do not enjoy teaching basic paddling skills. Not that basic >> skills are not important, its just that's not my cup of tea to teach. I >> think from memory, you and I may have spoken on some of this stuff last >> year, but I always enjoy talking with you regardless. > >Yes. > >> >> Doug Lloyd >> >> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> Robert To list: not sure if this is helpful to anyone, but it _is_ free! Currently, the CRCA Sea Kayaking Program (BCU equivalent in Canada) is in full swing in eastern Canada - not so much out west yet (very political). Occupational opportunities would best be investigated back east. In fact, opponents of the CRCA here in the west cite the current "commercial" involvement in the CRCA back east, in what is supposed to be a "recreational" thrust, as a sure sigh that these standards are being implemented for monetary gain. Welcome to Canadian paddling politics. I personally fought long and hard for some basic standards, but just go paddling now. BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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