After almost 20 years of experience in seakayaking and white water, giving instruction, organizing trips and events of different kind, even performing as a kayak guide for a local outfitter in Hawaii ... I have dealt with lots of people and lots of situations. I didn't have the chance to participate yet of any ACA or BCU course so I am not certified ... But ... As I am also a scuba diver, I know the pros and cons of having to deal with a forced certification to be able to practice a sport. Not all the certifying instructors follow the serious certification program they are supposed to, that meaning that being certified does not necessary qualify you as capable. Nevertheless, many tour operators are taking tourist to kayak trips without any previous training or mayor explanation of the risks involved, this meaning tourists not always know what they are exposing to when taking the tour, much less can they evaluate if they will be able to accomplish it or not. Forcing prospecting paddlers to be certified in order to be able to buy their equipment and practice their sport, I think is wrong and will discourage many people and make the sport more expensive. You can get started in kayaking by practicing with your friends or joining any local association, even practicing by yourself in protected areas. But requiring a basic certification to be able to rent equipment or take a tour of any kind I think is not only a good idea to protect the paddler, but will also stop the abuse of many operators. More demanding tours may requirer more advanced certifications as in scuba diving. My opinion ... Best regards and aloha ! Fernando ./ *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Apr 16 2003 - 23:55:09 PDT
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