Sea Kayak Georgia offers a free 3 hr class with every boat purchased. I learned more in that three hrs than I did the first two yrs of floating around in my rec boat. My instructor was Mike Robinson and he really had an innate ability to teach. By learning a high brace, low brace, sweep turn, sculling, basic rescues and a calm wet exit I felt much better able to handle challenging conditions. I had never seen or heard of any of these techniques before the class. Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 07:05 PM 4/18/02 -0400, jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net wrote: > Sea Kayak Georgia offers a free 3 hr class with every boat > purchased. I learned more in that three hrs than I did the first two yrs > of floating around in my rec boat. My instructor was Mike Robinson and > he really had an innate ability to teach. By learning a high brace, low > brace, sweep turn, sculling, basic rescues and a calm wet exit I felt > much better able to handle challenging conditions. I had never seen or > heard of any of these techniques before the class. That sounds like a great service. However, I'm wondering about including instruction on a low brace, high brace, and sculling for what's basically an "Introduction to kayaking 101" class. I help teach with local outfitter quite a bit and, unless the students in the class are very quick learners, those are things that we don't teach until the follow-up class. He also gives a free lesson to first time buyers, but the follow-up class isn't free. Rather than teach the braces and sculling I think the time would be better spent on an efficient forward stroke and general safety issues. The class that you took sounds like it was more focused on skills rather than education. I'm not sure what kinds of kayaks they sell but I know that there are quite a few people buying "recreational" kayaks that have little interest in bracing and sculling, but would certainly benefit by learning about hypothermia (which includes how to dress for paddling), how to deal with other boat traffic (which includes outfitter yourself for visibility), towing, etc. I guess this brings up a question for the list. If you were to design a three hour "Intro to kayaking" class that would be including with the purchase of a new kayak, what should it include? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
John Fereira wrote: > > I guess this brings up a question for the list. If you were to design > a three hour "Intro to kayaking" class that would be including with > the purchase of a new kayak, what should it include? > > Hi John. What to pack into three hours that will be fun (if word gets around that the attendees had a good time the next buyers are more likely to take you up on the offer), informative, teach vital skills, and reinforce safety. I'd start with a quick lesson (not more than ten minutes) on hypothermia, with more information offered for later perusal. This is to teach the basics, not offer everything. You want to get them aware without beating them senseless with information they aren't ready for and will not remember. Next would be a five minute set on how to properly don your clothing and adjust your PFD. I know that the manufacturers have instructions in the tags that are on them, but how many people actually read them? I know I see quite a few people with improperly adjusted PFD's, even some I have tried to inform. As for the how to don your clothing, there are tips that help the novice. I had a dry top for quite a while before someone taught me how to take it off without help. Now we are ready to actually look at the boats. Teach how to adjust the foot pegs, especially how to do it while you are sitting in the boat by using your feet. While you are still on the shore it would be a good idea to teach how to put on a spray skirt and take it off. Next would come time to show them how to get into the kayak without doing a face plant in the shore. That sounds funny, but I see many people either struggling to get in or getting in while the boat is grounded then gorilla walking them across the sand and rocks into deeper water. Once in deeper water you should have each person perform a wet exit. This will help them over their nervousness about capsize and reinforce the lecture on hypothermia. After everyone has settled down from the wet exits you can start with the basic forward and turning strokes. You should be about an hour to an hour and a half into your three hours at this point. The rest of the time can be spent on a short tour while you work on the strokes and demonstrate (for future reference) bracing strokes. You don't need to teach them here, but letting the students know that they exist is a good idea. Another option on the stroke practice is to make a game out of boat control such as follow the leader, slalom events, etc. These games have been covered here before, but I'm sure we can discuss them again if anyone wants to. Once back on the beach have a quick recap of what was learned, preferably voiced by the students. Before they leave make sure that each student has a handout listing the local paddling clubs along with contact information. A copy of a basic float plan and the contact numbers for the local authorities (Coast Guard, state marine agencies, whoever is patrolling the water you paddle) would be helpful. That is my take on this, ladies and gentlemen. Now it is your turn to take out your scissors and cut it up. Add, delete, agree, or disagree. Just as long as you contribute because I'm sure I have forgotten something! Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
Jennifer Pivovar wrote: >Mike, > >One thing you may have forgot - > >If you're teaching the wet exit up front, better teach >a few reentry techniques as well, no?? :) > >Jennifer >(Who has survived a day of dodging thunderstorms on >the (cold) waters of NH without swimming) > >> Rick Sylvia's post on safety reminded me of one more thing to add to the list. It would be a good idea to have a handout listing all of the commonly used safety equipment with a description of each. Perhaps some discussion on the use strengths and drawbacks of each as well. The handout would be a reference to inform the student as to what they might want to get. The students can decide for themselves what they feel comfortable bringing or leaving behind. For example having a marine radio is a nice idea, but if you only paddle inland lakes and streams there wouldn't be many people listening for your distress call. (Yes, I have three of them, but I don't bring them along when I paddle on Squam Lake.) Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/19/02 5:05:07 PM !!!First Boot!!!, jaf30_at_cornell.edu writes: > I guess this brings up a question for the list. If you were to design a > three hour "Intro to kayaking" class that would be including with the > purchase of a new kayak, what should it include? The fact that this is an "Intro to kayaking" should be reinforced. Situational awareness should be emphasized. Don't become so preoccupied with form or fun that you forget about potential dangers around you (boaters, wildlife, weather). The primary concern when departing shore should be a safe return to shore. That it doesn't matter which vessel was the giveway vessel when you are upside down in an oyster bed. Chances are the offender is long gone by the time you recover. Bruce McC WEO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mike writes: What to pack into three hours that will be fun...large snip.....because I'm sure I have forgotten something! sounds like a great class. So a quality instructor _at_ $12-15 an hour X 4 hours (1/2 hr for prep and clean up). 2 instructors if you have more than 6 in a class.. Any administrative costs, printed materials (hand outs). Wetsuit/ drysuit/ fleece, booties, gloves, hoods and such rentals. We need them when we teach in Portland. Classroom space (bad weather) and a place to change clothes (rent), insurance (costs me $5-8 a day per person) etc. Do you think you can do this for FREE with the *extra* profit margin on a rec boat? Remember you still have to pay for the product, the shipping, the phone book ad, the phone bill, the rent, the heat, the sales staff, the magazine ads, the webmaster, etc. steve (who *very* occasionally gives a 10% discount on a class with the purchase of a boat) Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe N 45º 39' 47" 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr. W 122º 36' 16" Portland, OR 97217 Web: www.aldercreek.com Phone: 503.285.0464 Email: aldercreek_at_qwest.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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