Re: [Paddlewise] Reality check!

----- Original Message -----
From: <KiAyker_at_aol.com>
To: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2000 11:39 AM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Reality check!


Here I go !...

> 1. How many years have you been kayaking?
>     A. Under 5      B. 5 - 10       C. Over 10

 Over 10

> 2. How many years have you been kayak touring/sea kayaking?
>    A. Under 5       B. 5 - 10        C. Over 10

Over 10

> 3. How many years have you been whitewater kayaking?
>    A. Under 5       B. 5 - 10        C. Over 10

5 - 10
I always liked whitewaters but I was too afraid of it. I only tried it once
I mastered my roll in my seakayak and even started giving some seakayaking
courses, roll included. My first atempt was a class II river, and it was
real fun untill my first capsize, when I panicly swimed out abandoning all
my equipement. How could I be with all my experience ???. So I started over
again and learned all the whitewater technique I could. Most of it I used to
better up my seakayaking and the most useful was to roll and brace under
almost any conditions (wind, waves, turbulence, cross-currents, cold water,
etc.)

> 4. If you were to accidentally capsize what percentage comes closest to
your
> ability to successfully roll back up?
>    A. 25% of the time     B. 50% of the time     C. 75% of the time     D.
> 100% of the time       E. Can't roll

100% of the time
I´m always practicing. I hate wet exits and love the adrenaline rouge seas
and whitewater provide. I don´t like to fail rolling and find no fun in
bailing out and reentering. I should add that even when I give seakayaking
instruction  I never try to pranctice my rolls when I´m not alone. I haven´t
failed in years but it can fail any time. I also don´t run rapids alone and
after dislocating a shoulder while kayaking some years ago, I don´t go
further than class III + whitewaters.

> 5. 10 being the greatest importance, and 1 being the least importance, on
a
> scale of 1 to 10 how important would you rate the roll for touring/sea
> kayakers?

10
Rolling is essential. Given the propper instruction is very easy to learn.
No matter if you are boy or girl, tall or short, thin or fat, young or old,
it can´t take more than 2 or 3 classes, so there´s not excuses for not
learning it. Even when you consider yourself an "easy water" paddler, storms
can show up in a few minutes, less than you need to reach coast. You can
even loose your balance while looking for a snack, taking a picture, or even
siting better for comfort. Any stupid movement can make you loose your
bakance and capsize. And if you can´t roll, you´ll be ALWAYS afraid of
capsizing, no matter when or where you are, which kayak you use, or with
whom you are paddling.

> 6. In the context of touring/sea kayaking how would you rate the roll as a
> skill to learn?

>          A. Beginner      B. Intermediate        C. Advanced

 Beginner
In my courses I first introduce the seakayak and the equipment, then teach
how to paddle forward, turn around and the balance of course, and
inmediately start with the exits asiisted rescues and rolls. I show the
students 3 techiques, screw, pawlatta, and c to c. Each one try them and
choose the one they find easier. Then we work it out untill they feel
confident. Then we go paddling and I teach them the bracing strokes, balance
with waves, etc.
In the advance or intermediate level I teach them the remaining rolling
techniques and make them practice enought so they don´t fail any attempt.
Rolling give the students confidence enough to learn the most advanced
techniques. They can concentrate on the manouver instead of being worried to
capsize. Rolling is the barrier that makes things different, it makes things
really easy.


To put it in a few words,

THE ROLL IS WHERE MOST PROBLEMS END AND REAL FUN BEGIN !!!

Best regards,

UNIÓN DE KAYAKISTAS DE TRAVESÍA
Fernando López Arbarello
uktkayak_at_uol.com.ar

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