Dear Paddlewise: Jacqueline and I had our third kayak lesson on Friday in Hertzeliyyah. It was a three-hour lesson in which we practiced what I believe is called the T-Rescue: rescuer takes rescuee's kayak bow-first, and empties it; rescuer holds rescuee kayak while rescuee climbs into his/her kakak, between the two kayaks. Our teacher, Omer, does not teach the paddlefloat rescue, which I have learned about on Paddlewise. He believes in kayaking in pairs, and learning how to roll. Apparently this is how they are trained in BCU courses. One of the best things I learned this time was the low brace. Ever since the beginning of the course, I have not felt very stable, and had tipped out twice. However, I have since discovered that consciously slightly increasing the pressure on the feet and thigh braces helps a lot in achieving stability. We are using NDK Romany 18 kayaks, which I understand are considered high-performance, unstable, and ones for which knowing how to brace well is essential. Learning this brace was very helpful because I could see how it could right the kayak quite well in an emergency situation. The trick is, of course, having this become instinctive. If it's not, it won't work. We also practiced more surfing, in about two foot surf. We learned how to ride the wave in, and when the boat turns (broaches?), to brace on the wave. After three lessons, I am realizing that to get confident and go out on my own, I will need a LOT more practice. This is a bit discouraging because I think it will take a long time to be proficient and self-sufficient. My wife, however (ladies, pay attention!) is a lot quicker study than I, and seems to be progressing faster. We have our last lesson next Friday, and I can't wait to see if I can solve my "stabilty" problems. Josh (in Ra`anana, Israel, where the water temperature is 65 degrees) ============================================================================== Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 African Studies Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel E-mail:teitelba_at_ccsg.tau.ac.il www.dayan.org ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Josh, Thanks for posting about learning experiences. As an instructor myself, I always like to see how others are learning. I have a coule more comments below. ------------------------------- | Kevin Whilden | | kwhilden_at_seanet.com | | Kayak Academy Instructor | | http://www.halcyon.com/kayak | ------------------------------- On Sun, 6 Feb 2000, Joshua Teitelbaum wrote: > Dear Paddlewise: > > Jacqueline and I had our third kayak lesson on Friday in Hertzeliyyah. It > was a three-hour lesson in which we practiced what I believe is called the > T-Rescue: rescuer takes rescuee's kayak bow-first, and empties it; rescuer > holds rescuee kayak while rescuee climbs into his/her kakak, between the > two kayaks. Our teacher, Omer, does not teach the paddlefloat rescue, > which I have learned about on Paddlewise. He believes in kayaking in > pairs, and learning how to roll. Apparently this is how they are trained > in BCU courses. > I encourage you to buy a paddlefloat, perhaps off the web. Get the Mariner float if you can, since it is the highest quality float available. Do not settle for a single chamber float, but a rigid foam float is okay. You can probably make a serviceable float on your own easily enough. The paddle float rescue has demonstrated its effectiveness time and again, and is something that you can add to your quiver of rescue techniques easily enough. No matter how much the BCU recommends for paddling in pairs, there will come a time when find yourself paddling effectively solo either by choice or by the result of having too much separation from your partner. > One of the best things I learned this time was the low brace. Ever since > the beginning of the course, I have not felt very stable, and had tipped > out twice. However, I have since discovered that consciously slightly > increasing the pressure on the feet and thigh braces helps a lot in > achieving stability. This is absolutely correct. The goal is to have the legs and hips locked solidly in the boat from leg pressure and from effective thigh hooks and hip pads. Snug paddling is absolutely essential to good technique, so don't settle for a loose fitting boat. Use foam and duct tape to increase the snugness of fit. Once you are out on the water, concentrate on rocking your hips back and forth (or alternatively lifting the knees up and down) while holding your upper body steady and vertical. essentially you need to bend your torso while holding your lower body rigid and upper body and head steady. If you get comfortable with this, then you have learned what I consider to be the number one most important skill in sea kayaking and whitewater: edge control. We are using NDK Romany 18 kayaks, which I understand > are considered high-performance, unstable, and ones for which knowing how > to brace well is essential. Learning this brace was very helpful because I > could see how it could right the kayak quite well in an emergency > situation. The trick is, of course, having this become instinctive. If > it's not, it won't work. > To practive the instinctiveness, have someone get behind your boat in shallow water, and tip your kayak to the side at random. You'll get it instinctive in short order, provided you then paddle a bunch in rough water or surf. > We also practiced more surfing, in about two foot surf. We learned how to > ride the wave in, and when the boat turns (broaches?), to brace on the wave. > > After three lessons, I am realizing that to get confident and go out on my > own, I will need a LOT more practice. This is a bit discouraging because > I think it will take a long time to be proficient and self-sufficient. My > wife, however (ladies, pay attention!) is a lot quicker study than I, and > seems to be progressing faster. > You shouldn't get discouraged by going sea kayaking for any reason, whether ostensibly practice or otherwise. :) Also it seems to me that you already have good judgement of your skills and limitations, which is the most critical element of safety in sea kayaking. Cheers, Kevin > We have our last lesson next Friday, and I can't wait to see if I can solve > my "stabilty" problems. > > Josh (in Ra`anana, Israel, where the water temperature is 65 degrees) > > ============================================================================== > Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 > Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 > African Studies > Tel Aviv University > Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel > E-mail:teitelba_at_ccsg.tau.ac.il > www.dayan.org > ============================================================================== > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I want to thank Kevin Whilden and others who have answered me off the list for their tips and words of encouragement. I plan to learn the paddlefloat rescue on my own, using the text in Matt Broze's page (thanks Matt). The recent tips on places to kayak in N. California have also been helpful. I'm originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and hope to be visiting there this summer. ============================================================================== Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 African Studies Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel E-mail:teitelba_at_ccsg.tau.ac.il www.dayan.org ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Our teacher, Omer, does not teach the paddlefloat rescue, >which I have learned about on Paddlewise. He believes in kayaking in >pairs, and learning how to roll. Apparently this is how they are trained >in BCU courses. What happens if both kayakers fall in, 20 feet apart, it's blowing 25 knots and a bit of a swell, some waves and the wind is circling round the headland - they are now 30 feet apart... No roll and they can't reach each other????? Now 40 feet apart..... Paddling solo and can roll, but take a mouthful of water, wet exit and can't hold breath long enough to re-enter and roll (Sea Kayaker mag recently)??? You don't necessarily need a paddle float, a PDF (on the paddle) will do and should be practiced with. A paddle by itself may be enough. I can do a side re-entry without a paddle, the paddle just helps a bit, a float gives you time to sort things out. Does the BCU live in the real world? Have they read the report about Lone Madsen's? Two people, no paddle float, no roll. >One of the best things I learned this time was the low brace. Ever since >the beginning of the course, I have not felt very stable, and had tipped >out twice. Sounds like a steep learning curve - do or die. >After three lessons, I am realizing that to get confident and go out on my >own, I will need a LOT more practice. But the BCU instructor said to paddle with someone? And could your partner rescue you if needed? There are other designs of kayaks. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Alex Ferguson wrote: > Does the BCU live in the real world? Have they read the report about Lone > Madsen's? Two people, no paddle float, no roll. Mmmm, so what were they doing there? Nick Who got soundly whipped in the surf last night and went home early It was however good practise for rolling in some nasty dumping stuff. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a previous post ...> Our teacher, Omer, does not teach the paddlefloat rescue, >which I have learned about on Paddlewise. He believes in kayaking in >pairs, and learning how to roll. Apparently this is how they are trained >in BCU courses. Response: I have been taking couses from BCU coaches for several years (ok, so I'm a slow learner). In the first course I took (effectively BCI 1 star training) we learned the paddlefloat rescue. It appears that the statement "apparently this is how they are trained in BCU courses" is a conclusion based on Omer's teaching approach, and not BCU philosophy. All of my kayaking to date has been with at least one other person, but my paddle float is always with me. My roll continues to improve, but I'm not going to totally bet my life on it yet. sid *************************************************************************** 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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