Jed, I wasn't so much hacking at the recent discussion about ACA & BCU "stuff" as I was commenting on a whole bunch of "little" things that have been said during the last few months. I was pretty clear about the ACA / BCU stuff. I think overhearing someone "teaching" a group of beginners this weekend, speaking as if "his way" was the "correct way", set me off. I should paddle more & think less. C'est la vie. Spencer HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Well said Spencer!! On my previous post "changing feathers" I wrote almost the exact same thing that you stated below. I deleted that part of my post concerned that I might offend someone having it not worded correctly. I thought my CAPITALIZATION OF THE WORD "MY" would be understood that it works for me. I can't say what works for anyone else. It is through trial and error that we truly learn what works for us as individuals. But it does not hurt to hear and learn from other peoples experiences. This is one of the ways we learn about the depth of the sport to go out for trial and error. Arthur Hebert In the mist of the tourist at JAZZ FEST Spencer wrote: >Okay, I'm going to stick my neck out a bit. Please don't hit back too hard. And it is not my intention to suggest anyone is "wrong", nor would I like to think that I've caused anyone to shy away from posting. > >I've heard quite a bit lately on this list about the "best way" or the "right way" to do something (paddle, roll, brace, etc.), or from whom you should take paddling advice, etc. (I recall someone even saying "pick your experts well"). Maybe I'm missing something here (kept my head underwater too long, too many times?), but does there need to be so much emphasis on a "right or particular way"? For example, are Euro-blades better than Greenland sticks? I'd say no, they're just different. Taken to the extreme, this seems egotistical to me. > >I've learned to paddle by doing, by making mistakes, by instruction, by practice, by watching others and emulating what I like, but I don't subscribe to a "correct method". I'd certainly not suggest my method is anything other than my method. Okay, here's one of my points (and sorry for the CAPS): I PADDLE USING MY METHODS (right or wrong), AN ADOPTION OF MANY TECHNIQUES AND STYLES, AND NOT NECESSARILY TO BE OF SOUND USE TO ANYONE OTHER THAN ME. SHOULDN'T WE ALL BE DOING THIS? > >When people (usually those with lesser skills) ask me about their technique or style, I'm in total agreement with the majority(?) on this list who believe that it is a grand idea to present them with all their options and let them choose what works best for them. This is my second, and more important point. Again, sorry for the CAPS: ISN'T IT BETTER TO LET PEOPLE USE WHAT WORKS FOR THEM V. A "STANDARD" OR "CONVENTIONAL" TECHNIQUE? Be it a "head dink" in the recovery phase of a brace, or an unfeathered paddle, I'm all for trying and using those things that work for me, and forgetting the rest. Maybe I'm just way-off-base here, but rarely (anymore; actually, I probably give way way too much unsolicited "advice") do I suggest any technique other than what "works best" for another paddler, especially beginners. Besides, I haven't been kayaking long enough to consider myself anything other than a capable paddler (whatever that may mean). > >Maybe I just needed to exhale, maybe I'm too wound up from work, maybe I need to put in 30 miles. Sorry for griping, but where else could I achieve such a catharsis before I take a beating? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Spencer, I think you may have read some of the posts too quickly. I asked the original questions on BCU and ACA policy and read with great care and interest each and every post. All of the posts were very non judgmental about what was right and what was wrong save for a parody written by Roger Schuman. Roger's post was very much tongue in cheek, but may have been to subtle for you to catch his forewarned sarcasm. I think you will find that we are all in agreement on your points of inclusion and tolerance of different styles. We all have our favorites but no one that I read said anything about best this or right that except as part of a parody. Jed (It's *MY* island!) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Spencer, Please accept my apology for having presumed otherwise. Jed In a message dated 5/3/00 4:28:42 AM, asdfghjkl-cem_at_hotbot.com writes: << Jed, I wasn't so much hacking at the recent discussion about ACA & BCU "stuff" as I was commenting on a whole bunch of "little" things that have been said during the last few months. I was pretty clear about the ACA / BCU stuff. I think overhearing someone "teaching" a group of beginners this weekend, speaking as if "his way" was the "correct way", set me off. I should paddle more & think less. C'est la vie. Spencer >> *************************************************************************** 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 message dated 5/3/00 4:28:42 AM !!!First Boot!!!, asdfghjkl-cem_at_hotbot.com writes: << I wasn't so much hacking at the recent discussion about ACA & BCU "stuff" as I was commenting on a whole bunch of "little" things that have been said during the last few months. I was pretty clear about the ACA / BCU stuff. I think overhearing someone "teaching" a group of beginners this weekend, speaking as if "his way" was the "correct way", set me off. I should paddle more & think less. C'est la vie. >> Spencer and Friends, If ever there is a time for the right way and wrong way, it is with newcomers. This is the purpose of formal instruction (opinion) STANDARDIZATION. At this juncture, there may very well be a right and wrong way. The right way being the way that will introduce paddlers to the sport without harming themselves, other paddlers or the paddling environment. After paddling for several seasons, we tend to overlook the basics. Newcomers need the basics. They need reference points. If you have a class of ten students and everyone is doing it there way, time management will be much less than effective. If a person is taking responsibility for a group (and teaching following an established format) , isn't their way the correct way? It appears to me that many of the ACA/BCU, Euro/Greenland, Rudd/Non debates are mainly good natured. With these issues, there is no right and wrong. Ahh, now there's the rub. Bruce McC WEO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Outfit3029_at_aol.com wrote: > >> I think overhearing someone "teaching" a group of beginners this weekend, >> speaking as if "his way" was the "correct way", set me off. I should paddle >> more & think less. C'est la vie. >> > > If ever there is a time for the right way and wrong way, it is with > newcomers. This is the purpose of formal instruction (opinion) > STANDARDIZATION. At this juncture, there may very well be a right and wrong > way. The right way being the way that will introduce paddlers to the sport > without harming themselves, other paddlers or the paddling environment. > After paddling for several seasons, we tend to overlook the basics. > Newcomers need the basics. They need reference points. While I agree that we must agree to disagree on some points (feather, chines, Kevlar, etc), I agree with Bruce's disagreement with Spencer. Huh? When teaching beginners, it's a disservice to say "You can do it this way, or that way, or this other; try them all and see which you like best." The beginner needs A way to do it that works. My wife HATES it when she asks me how to do something on the computer and I say "Click here and here, or your can press CTRL-! and V, or else the easiest way is just to type in this command..." and about here she screams "Tell me ONE way to do it." Of necessity, when I teach, it's MY way. You don't like it? OK, get another instructor. Later, as students develop the capability to do "it" at all, we can introduce other options. And there are some things that we don't disagree about. If you see a beginner paddling with his biceps, do you not talk to him about torso rotation? Does anyone teach picking the head up during a roll? If a student shows up for a class in Lake Superior in a cotton T-shirt, do you not send him away for better clothing? Maybe you would. But you wouldn't teach with me. Steve (who is not really as dogmatic as this post may sound) *************************************************************************** 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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