[Paddlewise] Does everyone have to be a perfect instructor? (was: are beginners allowed?)

At 09:42 AM 11/28/00 -0800, timbre_at_best.com wrote:
 >scott,
 >
 >read your post re a trip with dwayne strosaker and the newbies.
 >
 >my overwhelming reaction to your post is, why paddle with the 
"excruciatingly slow" newbies if you hate it (it being >their low skill 
level) so much?

I don't think your criticism is entirely justified, since Scott was not the 
organizer of the trip and was just there to help out. Nobody paid any money 
to go on that trip, and it wouldn't have worked at all if it wasn't for 
experienced paddlers like Scott to help Duane marshall the forces of chaos 
created by 20 so-called intermediate kayakers. As someone who has led 
beginning whitewater trips with 20+ kayakers, I can tell you that the 
magnitude of these forces of chaos are *quite* significant. It sounded like 
a very mellow trip, and I have no doubt that had there been a deep water 
capsize or other emergency that Scott would have been there to perform the 
rescue. Beginners flipping in 1 foot surf on a sandy beach is anything but 
an emergency 99% of the time, even if the beginner doesn't realize that 
yet. Hopefully the experienced paddlers had an eye out for that 1% problem, 
and it sounded like they did. If this is so, I also see no reason why the 
situation shouldn't be taken with amusement, since it was indeed entirely 
benign. People shouldn't be so serious that they can't laugh at their own 
mishaps, especially when learning something like kayaking!

I write this as someone who occasionally gets paid real money to teach 
kayaking, and I know when it is appropriate for an instructor to 
micromanage a beginner's learning experience. Scott's position certainly 
did not require that level of consideration, though it certainly would have 
been nice if he had wanted to do so. There have been plenty of 
instructional trips that I have helped out on, but have not been obligated 
to do serious instruction. On these trips I am there to help with 
emergencies and give occasional instruction, but the main purpose is to 
selfishly have fun paddling. There's nothing wrong with that if it is 
appropriate for the circumstances.

One other comment is that it was good thing Scott was paddling with the 
slowpokes if he was learning how to use a greenland paddle for the first 
time. It took me several long trips and a lot of roll practice to get truly 
comfortable and efficient with mine. Now I use it for everything sea kayak 
related and I shudder at the thought of paddling with a yucky piece of 
fiberglass in my hands. Greenland paddles are a wonder of efficient design, 
and learning how to use all of the different paddling techniques properly 
can make even the slowest and most boring flatwater paddling trip 
enjoyable. *grin*

kevin


Kevin Whilden
Your Planet Earth
http://www.yourplanetearth.org
(206) 788-0281 (ph)
(206) 788-0284 (f)


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************