Dave Kruger said in a post dated 11/29/00..."I have a related dilemma to pose": ( regarding paddling successfully with some one not matched to your style or experience )." does anyone have a regime to help here?" I am a realist and can cope with most challenges as long as I know the answer to the following question up front..."How scary can this get?" I have no problem bringing this question up, but your friend might. Years ago a friend took me out on his Hobie catamaran sail boat and after about a half an hour I was smitten....I expressed my enthusiasm and dared to ask the "S" question. He knew that I was born with gills so he quietly flipped the boat and dumped me in the lake. He then treaded water while instructing me on the correct way to right the boat. Once we were back on board he said with a grin that THAT was as scary as it got. * note: I am not advocating the "surprise" method of instruction for anyone (that you intend to remain friends with.) :O) But I digress...the thread is... that I delight in introducing friends who have never been in a kayak to my love of the sport. I own two sit on tops for just this purpose and before I take a newbie out I always do the same drill. I tell them that if they choose to (or have to ) hop off for a swim I want to show them how easy it is to re-enter. I show them in water just above my head and on the kayak that they are going to paddle. I find that taking the time to start the paddle in this way alerts them to the possibility of an inadvertent dip and makes them far less fearful of it. I think that the other post that suggested that you check your friends comfort with being IN the water may be onto something. Good luck, Rob Dee *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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