[Paddlewise] skills-Long (so what else is new?)

Excuse the cross-post but. . .
    With the subject of learning and teaching skills within the context of 
our club flying around I've been looking at improving my own teaching as well 
as paddling skills. One thing I have been unable to do is to teach the most 
basic of the rolling skills because I can't figure out the mechanics of 
getting someone half way over and help them sweep the paddle without loosing 
my grip on the boat. So, I've been watching others teach to see how others 
deal with this issue.
    At the skills workshop we ran a couple of weeks ago at Lake Anna, I was 
standing in the water while 4 people were teaching rolling. I couldn't hear 
one of them but the three I did hear impressed me deeply. I was so enthralled 
by their approach I forgot to look at how they dealt the specific issue of 
the paddle. 
    All three of the students I could hear and see were struggling with this 
new, sideways/upside-down world. Each of the instructors was unfailingly 
positive and encouraging. They all kept telling their students how well they 
were doing. I watched as one man, who was having a problem with relaxing and 
trusting the instructor not to drop him, relaxed and focus on learning the 
skills. I watched an instructor deal with his own bad back but determined to 
teach his student to roll.
    What struck me isn't a new observation but one that made me feel very 
proud of the people in my club. All four of these people who were standing in 
water, early on a Sunday morning, far from home were there for the pleasure 
of being there. They are not paid/certified instructors. They were/are some 
of the best teachers I've seen. Kevin got his young student rolling that 
session, as did Gar. Not bad, 2 out of 4 in a one hour class of brand, 
spanking new paddlers.
    A while later I saw the boy whom Kevin had been teaching over on the side 
teaching his obviously very proud father to roll. If there was some way to 
capture the joy on the son's determined face and the air of pride of the 
father and bottle it the world would be richer.
    I still hadn't gotten any further with the mechanics of the paddle, 
though the lesson of teaching was more deeply imprinted on me. So, last week 
I was watching Brian teach Ruth to roll at Pier 7. He did a little of this 
and a little of that, assuring her he wouldn't drop her, which almost worked 
<G>. But in teaching her balance he sat on the bow of her boat, told her to 
keep her head and shoulders level while he rocked the boat. It was like a 
light bulb lit up over my head!
    It just couldn't be that simple. It just couldn't be. I ended up leaving 
because I had to see if this was the answer to the struggle I've been having 
for a year with my Gulfstream. I paddled out and looked for a wake or two to 
try this idea on. I tried edging, keeping a thought on where my shoulders 
were. 
    Maybe someone had tried to tell me this before but I didn't get it. 
Watching the display of what happened when Brian rocked Ruth's boat finally 
gave me an understanding of the dynamic of the balance. I was just floored. I 
was frustrated that for a change there were few boats out to rock my boat. 
So, the next day I went to the Potomac for the club paddle there. I got one 
good wake to ride there, again, not a bobble. It just seemed too easy an 
answer.
    Sat. I'm out on the Bay with the wind making some of the water a bit 
lumpy. There is even a white cap or two for a few minutes. Nothing. I'm like 
a rock out there. I decided to test the theory by going back to my old way. 
Immediately I felt the tippy, unpleasant feeling. I can't be sure it isn't 
that I expect to feel that way so I do but I do know that the water I'm in 
would have made me at least concerned but I was out there feeling like I'm in 
my armchair.
    I guess for now I'll have to stick to watching the others teach rolling 
while I stick to the rescues, strokes and stuff I don't have to hold someone 
else's' boat up for. It will all come in good time. Now that the roll is 
there and the balance is coming I can focus on my bracing for this season. 
Maybe one day i'll grow up to be a brave paddler.

Joan Spinner
    
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