Re: [Paddlewise] Fear of rolling.

At 01:44 PM 8/2/2004 -0500, Keith Wrage wrote:
>As one with a bit of fear about being upside down in watery environs....
>
>Personally, I found a pool with clear water, a person dedicated to 
>'helping' me capsize slowly (easing me into the water), and a snorkel mask 
>were helpful.  I know some will scoff at using a mask - those aren't real 
>world conditions.  But for this gal the point is getting over the 
>fear.  Then work to real world conditions.  If the person helping you 
>capsize also has a mask, you can capsize the person, then go under and 
>have a 'chat' with them - keep them calm, show them the loop on their 
>skirt - prevent them from popping too fast.  Make make them count fingers 
>with you to ten before popping....then 15...then 20....etc.

I have been involved for several years with a local club.  It's affiliated 
with Cornell and it's members are primarily students though anyone in the 
local community is allowed to join.  The club has a dozen or so whitewater 
kayaks that may be used by club member.  As a prerequisite to being allowed 
to use the clubs kayaks a person must demonstrate two wet exists performed 
in a calm, effective manner.  During the winter I help run the pool 
sessions for the club where many first timers get into a kayak for the 
first time so I'm one of a few people that teach and judge wet exits for 
the club.

A couple of years ago there was a woman that was doing her first wet exits 
and on the first one I don't think her head hit the water before she was 
pulling the spray skirt loop.  I think it took 6-7 attempts before I was 
satisfied that she wouldn't panic if she capsized unintentionally.  Then 
she told me, "I don't know why this is so hard for me...I'm a lifeguard".

I think that those that are have a fear of rolling or being underwater 
really have a fear of being trapped in the kayak upside down.

The guy that usually runs those pool sessions is really good with 
beginners.  One of the things he does is stand next them while they're 
sitting in their boat and hold their hands for support as they put their 
head in the water.  Then he'll graduate to having them tip over and he'll 
turn them back upright by twisting the boat back upright.  Once they've 
done their wet exits, instead of turning them loose with a paddle, he'll 
work them using the side of the pool.  He'll have them start working on hip 
snaps while holding on the side of the pool and ask them to see how long 
they can hold their breath before coming back up.  Once they've played 
around a bit he'll progress to performing hip snaps off the bow of another 
boat, to capsizing and performing a bow rescue (as a victim).  Once they've 
done that a few times, and know that they can hip snap back up, he'll ask 
them to keep their head underwater after they've grabbed the bow of another 
boat and see how long they can hold their breath before coming up.  All of 
these exercises gradually allow the new kayaker with a fear of being 
trapped in their kayak to become more and more comfortable being upside down.
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