Re: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise

> ><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! >>
> >
> >I remembered it wrong. He wasn't sitting on her boat. He was standing in
> >about waist deep water at her bow.
> >     I wish someone had thought to do that for me 3 years ago.
>
> I've seen this done (and had it done to me) quite a few times and
> there are a couple of good variations on it.  Having someone stand
> at the stern of the boat works even better because you can't see
> which way the person is rocking your boat.  Doing it with your
> eyes closed can be interesting too.
>
> At the pool sessions I attend the "rock the boat" exercise is done
> frequently.  In this case it's in whitewater kayaks and the "rocker"
> will really attempt to capsize the paddler, who is bracing like mad
> to remain upright.  There are a couple of really brutal "rockers"
> that can capsize someone despite some strong bracing, and then after
> the paddler rolls up, they'll keep rocking the boat so that the paddler
> fall over the other side, and then will hold the boat to that they're
> forced to roll up on their off side.  Brutal, but good practice.

For kids (ages 8 and 10) I have had them in a small white water boat...teach
them how to get in unassisted, and give each 10 minutes of chasing me around
the lake, trying to ram me with their boat (I am swimming) and I go anyway I
wish...including under the boat, etc...so they have to learn to paddle
forward, turn either way, turn around, or paddle backwards....after 10
minutes I take the front or back of the boat, and rock it like crazy, with
them trying to stay balanced any way possible...then I give them  a
1-2-3-over....and flip them, so they get out after a flip, and the next kid
gets his turn.....

A natural way to teach them (kids) how to find balance in a kayak....and
mucho fun for everyone...a good way to get comfortable in a kayak, with out
formal instruction at a young age...hopefully good skills to build on when
they are mature enough to paddle and not just goof around....They actually
do some real bracing eventually, without even knowing it...and they
definitely do some good body hip motion.....they are naturals at it, being
young and flexible....

Now how to teach a kid that age to roll his boat...?


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