Re: [Paddlewise] Taking some kayaking lessons

Others with more experience will doubtless give better advice, but here are
a few ideas that come readily to mind.

1.    Relax and enjoy the day.  Nothing can go wrong if you just view
everything that happens as recreational experience (even if you take your
recreation seriously)

2.   One of the earliest lessons should be the "wet exit."  Practicing how
to keep your cool when exiting the boat after a capsize (intentional or
otherwise) gives you confidence and keeps everything in the "fun" range.

3.  When you learn how to do a forward stroke, pay attention to the
instructions to emphasize body rotation over arm pulling.  It's possible (if
awkward) to have a credible forward stroke with almost stiff arms, so long
as you use lots of body rotation.  Point the center of your chest at "10:00
o'clock" when stroking to the left and then at "2:00 o'clock" when stroking
to the right.

4.  Learn to support the forward stroke with your legs.  Many instructors
leave this out of early instruction.  As you plant the paddle in the water
near your left foot, gently press that left foot against the foot peg and
use that support as the base for your body rotation.  This transmits the
energy of your stroke to the boat most efficiently.

5.  You will turn the boat more efficiently and keep your balance better
when you become comfortable "edging" the boat.  You do this by raising one
knee and dropping your butt on the opposite side.  You can -- after a
while -- edge the boat to a significant angle very comfortably and to good
effect.  It will help you to keep your balance if you remember to keep your
head over the center of the boat, regardless of how much you edge.  This
will feel very tenuous at first, but it will pay handsomely when you become
comfortable with edging.

These are just a few basic ideas that (I believe) underlie all of the skills
you will learn.  Take your time, stay comfortable with what you are doing
and don't push so hard that it stops being fun.  Each of us is different.
Some take years to acquire skills that come to others in months.  If you
ensure that the journey is as much fun as the destination, you can't lose.
Have a great time!

Bob V
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Crampton <eric_at_atdesk.com>
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2000 5:02 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Taking some kayaking lessons


>I've signed up for an all day sea kayaking lesson with my significant
>other for Sunday May 21. I have some very basic paddling experience
>(slow, flatwater in canoe and recreational kayak) while she has never
>paddled before. I expect the class to be very informative. We'll learn
>paddling strokes, bracing, rolls, etc.
>
>What things did my fellow readers find difficult to learn initially?
>What things should we absolutely make sure we learn in our lesson? Any
>other tips?
>
>Thanks,
>---
>Eric
>Charleston, SC


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