Re: [Paddlewise] Anxiety, Wet Exits and Rolling

What Natalie describes is what we have done minus the roll.  If someone
feels a bit panicked, we stand in about 4 foot of water, invert the
kayak, and the student gets into the kayak using the somersault (may
take a couple of tries), raps the side of the boat, and comes out
again.  Seems the feel very secure doing it.  After they do that once or
twice, there is usually little fear in 'taking the plunge' with the
skirt on and air side up.  They seem to remember the rap, wave, but
never paddle retention.  That usually takes a couple more tries.

"Alice J. Bennett" wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 3/8/01 11:43:21 AM, wiestn_at_tamug.tamu.edu writes:
> 
> << rather than feed the panic reflex that many of us have, teach to a
> solution rather than set up for failure (panic). >>
> 
> Hi Natalie,
> 
>     I'm not sure I understand you. With regard to wet exits, the only
> approach I know is to work to desensitize the student to the anxiety
> associated with being upside down in an enclosed kayak. I work with various
> students in a variety of ways depending on their relative anxiety level.
> 
>  major snip
> ***************************************************************************

> The technique that Natalie described worked for me.  I started getting
> panicky just watching the film on rolling and could feel the anxiety
> escalating as I entered the water in a doughboy pool.  Lucky for me the
> instructor was totally low key, no pressure.  I told him that I was starting
> to freak but didn't want to go home.  He asked if I was comfortable with my
> head underwater, and when I said yes he had me swim underwater for awhile
> and then he had me put my head into an overturned kayak and breathe, then I
> graduated to a reentry and roll. 

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