Michael Noyes wrote a list of what he would like in a kayak class. Good job! Some points of mine: - Let them PLAY with boats. Try to switch boats on the water, try to turn in the seat and paddle backwards, try to stand up in a boat, find the edges of its stability, with and without support of another boat. It will teach them to TRY their equipment, make them more comfortable, and get them wet for the next exercises. - Some people are VERY scared of a capsise. Maybe they shouldn't be in a kayak, but since they do it anyway... Let them skip the wet exit, but tell them they can't use a sprayskirt without the wet-exit-practice, and can't paddle rough water without a sprayskirt. It's up to them to conquer the fear. - Whether they were up to the wet exit or not: Let them try to swim some distance in their paddling clothes, while towing a kayak, preferably in cold water and some waves. Learning by experience is the best way, and by this exercise you teach them why to wear a PFD, why to learn rescues and why to dress for immersion. - Put in a rescue or two. Let them try to reenter a kayak without help, and with help in a T or X rescue. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Apr 19 2002 - 15:12:32 PDT
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