Re: [Paddlewise] BCU kayak entry & exit

Thanks for the good descriptions of do's and don'ts.  I do make sure that I 
sit on the kayak (with the paddle underneath me) and not on the extended part 
of the paddle.  I try to keep the support blade completely out of the water.  
Usually when I start to slide into the cockpit the support blade will contact 
the surface and give me the support I need without going underwater.  This is 
especially true now that I am using a greenland paddle.  

I have noticed a problem when having new paddlers get in by themselves for 
the first couple of times.  If I have them start with the support blade out 
of the water and  they start to roll away from the support side, they 
violently lean back to the other side.  They can drive the blade down to the 
bottom pretty fast and put a lot of pressure on the paddle.  For the first 
couple of solo entrys I usually have them start with the support blade on the 
bottom and mention about a thousand times not to lean too hard.  Having that 
slight support from the beginning seems to keep them from suddenly shifting 
weight and putting extreme pressure on the paddle.  After a few entries and 
exits this way they usually get enough balance to be able to start with the 
support blade on the surface or just above it.  Do not know if this is good 
"teaching technique" or not, but no one has broken one of my paddles yet.  Of 
course that could just be luck.
.
If I am going to get certified, I guess I need to go out and practice getting 
in and out without a paddle.  Maybe if I practice enough I will finally get 
the nerve to try standing up in the kayak.  

Mark J. Arnold
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************