RE: [Paddlewise] Teaching a rolling class: Dealing with fear

Julie wrote: <<<I'm impressed!!!  But that is because I'm one of those full
of the fear.  Areyour classes on the East Coast or West Coast?  Sounds like
a great way to teach to me!!>>>

Hi Julie,

My classes are in the Netherlands, Europe. A little out of the way for you,
I'm afraid... But if you ever come in the neighborhood, it will be my
pleasure to take you out to a pool or a pond and play with you for an
afternoon.

Meanwhile, you can try to help yourself. For most of the exercises I thought
up, you won't need an instructor or even a kayak. Put on your nose-clip and
try these:

Check how long you can hold your breath, in and out of the water.

Swimming underwater (when was the last time you did that? For some of my
students it was years ago).

Swimming underwater upside down.

Making a summersault, at the surface or under water, forward and backward.

Diving under something: A boat, a dock, a person, a toy in a swimmingpool.

While diving under something, grabbing it and trying to move it.

Float at the surface, and ask someone to push you under, at your mark or
unexpected.

Capsize while sitting on top of your boat.

Try to re-enter and immediately exit a boat under water. Take small steps:
First just your feet, then part of your legs, then your hips too. When you
manage to get in and out completely, add time to enjoy the scenery before
you get out.

Capsize while sitting in your boat, but make sure you're already wet, so
you're used to the watertemperature. You don't have to bail your boat to
repeat this exercise: It works just as well with a swamped half-sunk boat.

Same as before, with a sprayskirt

Same as before, without knowing the water temperature

Let someone stand next to your boat and pull you up after a capsize. Make
clear appointments about when and how to pull you out of the water

After that, you should be ready for a regular rolling class.

Have fun, and I emphasize that: Have FUN!

Niels.

BTW, don't forget to delete the original text in your answers. There may be
no more Jackie to come and get you, but there are others. ;-)

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