The problem with newer paddlers not knowing the basics comes from how they learn the sport, not the kind of craft they paddle. One can learn the basics of whitewater in any currently available plastic closed-deck kayak, and progress to high skill in any such craft. Having taught whitewater for about five years now, I have noticed that the older style dancer/pirouette boats somewhat limit learning because they are less responsive than the new short, flat play boats. Reponsiveness, to both good and bad technique is the key to learning the skills necessary to whitewater kayak. A responsive boat will tell you when something is wrong, and as soon as you start to do things correctly, it will respond positively a little bit sooner than an unresponsive kayak. This helps speed the progress of acquiring skill. Contrary to what the old fogies say, speed is not important in learning whitewater. It IS important in making do-or-die ferries and surfing long fast waves, but how many beginners ever encounter those situations? Something is very wrong if they do. Paddling class II-III rapids does not require speed, but it does require control. A long fast boat is inherently harder to control than a short flat boat. I think it is a very telling statement to notice that this year's hottest beginner boat was last year's hottest rodeo boat. The underlying truth is that it is easier to learn whitewater in a responsive kayak. As far as the new school kayakers who learn to cartwheel before learning eddy turns or perfecting their eskimo roll. Let them have their fun, because the river will soon teach them the necessity of sound paddling technique. The unforgiving River Gods reward hubris with spankings, enforcing humility in all but the most obtuse of conscious paddlers. The only hope is that no permanent injuries will result as part of this process. Unfortunately the exponentially growing popularity of whitewater kayaking statistically ensures that mishaps will more frequently occur. Fortunately, the class II-III river is a fairly benign environment, especially when compared to the harsh Mistress of the Sea. There are lots of reasons why I think learning whitewater is a much safer endeavor than learning sea kayaking, but I'll have to get into that later as necessity of work ends this particular polemic. Cheers, kevin ----------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Whilden Your Planet Earth kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org http://www.yourplanetearth.org voice: (206) 788-0281 fax: (206) 788-0284 ----------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Applause ...! Now Iīll say I absolutely agree. I will only add that it would be grate if instructors appends a lesson on "how to cool down your brain", as most of w.w. danger starts when adrenaline fills your ego so much, that you stop listening, even to yourself. Go for the last video, take note of the kayakers names, wait for the next year and check how many are still alive .... and they call themselves PRO'S !!! Fernando Lopez Arbarello Kayak Argentina - Sea Kayaking Mailing List www.topica.com/lists/kayak_argentina kayak_argentina_at_uol.com.ar ----- Original Message ----- From: Kevin Whilden <kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org> To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 7:53 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] white water polemic > The problem with newer paddlers not knowing the basics comes from how they > learn the sport, not the kind of craft they paddle. One can learn the > basics of whitewater in any currently available plastic closed-deck kayak, > and progress to high skill in any such craft. Having taught whitewater for > about five years now, I have noticed that the older style dancer/pirouette > boats somewhat limit learning because they are less responsive than the new > short, flat play boats. Reponsiveness, to both good and bad technique is the > key to learning the skills necessary to whitewater kayak. A responsive boat > will tell you when something is wrong, and as soon as you start to do things > correctly, it will respond positively a little bit sooner than an > unresponsive kayak. This helps speed the progress of acquiring skill. > > Contrary to what the old fogies say, speed is not important in learning > whitewater. It IS important in making do-or-die ferries and surfing long > fast waves, but how many beginners ever encounter those situations? > Something is very wrong if they do. Paddling class II-III rapids does not > require speed, but it does require control. A long fast boat is inherently > harder to control than a short flat boat. I think it is a very telling > statement to notice that this year's hottest beginner boat was last year's > hottest rodeo boat. The underlying truth is that it is easier to learn > whitewater in a responsive kayak. > > As far as the new school kayakers who learn to cartwheel before learning > eddy turns or perfecting their eskimo roll. Let them have their fun, because > the river will soon teach them the necessity of sound paddling technique. > The unforgiving River Gods reward hubris with spankings, enforcing humility > in all but the most obtuse of conscious paddlers. The only hope is that no > permanent injuries will result as part of this process. Unfortunately the > exponentially growing popularity of whitewater kayaking statistically > ensures that mishaps will more frequently occur. Fortunately, the class > II-III river is a fairly benign environment, especially when compared to the > harsh Mistress of the Sea. There are lots of reasons why I think learning > whitewater is a much safer endeavor than learning sea kayaking, but I'll > have to get into that later as necessity of work ends this particular > polemic. > > Cheers, > kevin > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Kevin Whilden > Your Planet Earth > kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org > http://www.yourplanetearth.org > voice: (206) 788-0281 > fax: (206) 788-0284 > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > *************************************************************************** > 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/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey, thats it - Fernando! > Now Iīll say I absolutely agree. I will only add that it would be grate if > instructors appends a lesson on "how to cool down your brain", as most of > w.w. danger starts when adrenaline fills your ego so much, that you stop > listening, even to yourself. > > Go for the last video, take note of the kayakers names, wait for the next > year and check how many are still alive .... and they call themselves PRO'S > !!! I heard so many bad stroys about the AKC (Alpine canoe club) out of first hand. there have been many mad guys, doing all the idiot things, be proud of this.... Most of them havnīt survived.... One had so much fun, placing his kayak(and himself) before next bridges leg, "the companions will rescue me!" Sme day, the xouldnīt do so - RIP. Others find it funny to drive all real high waterfalls. BUT the water depht under it have to be flat, other way its boring! So many idiots. those with quite good instincts have survived, married and find out, that there is something called "responsibility". Okay, those are the extreme guys, most are almost normal. (Could paddlers be "normal"?) But these adrenaline factor is very important. I seen it on myself. You do things, afterwards you donīt believe it. But this also happens by seakayaking. BUT here is the risk not SO direct and mortual! Itīs really difficult, stay on the small way between responsibile behaviour and extraordinary fun/relaxation. BUT, sometimes the adrenaline kick is the only way to DO things without dangerous hesitation. best regards Jochen *************************************************************************** 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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