RE: [Paddlewise] don't paddle, just roll

Neils,

It's obvious she had her mind set on one thing (her trip).  Which probably
means she has already paid, etc.  You can only hope the trip coordinator on
her whitewater trip checks her proficiency first.  It sounds like you were
blunt with her which is good (and that doesn't make you a jerk), but
considering that she is going to do it regardless makes me want to say, give
her options that she will at least try.  She "considers" herself more than a
beginner so she probably thinks of beginning classes as demeaning.  I
personally think roll sessions may have been good, especially if she wasn't
able to get it right, then she may have seen that she was in over her head.
I'm not defending her by any means but It's at least good that she was
asking for some kind of instruction.  

You questioned her 2 years of seakayaking, which I agree with your analysis.
I am new to paddling with groups, thus few people have actually paddled with
me and I find it difficult to accurately explain my experience level, so I
think you should (as you did) asked more detailed questions, other than just
how long.   I consider myself a beginner, however, I have finished the Texas
water safari at near flood levels in unlimited-solo and placed 3rd (260
miles in 68 hours),  I have competed in about  6 marathon races.  The only
real whitewater I have gone through is Hueco falls on the guadalupe river
which is a little short class 3 I think and all that in the same Kayak (Seda
Dart), But the fact of the matter is I don't (at least consciously) know
bracing, leaning, and a majority of the technical terms I hear in paddling.
I wouldn't do a whitewater trip without real instruction on rescue and
rolling, but I might balk at doing beginning kayak classes and instead ask
for specific lessons for what I was attempting. 
Roy
=:-)




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