"And the one piece of equipment that many people really don't spend enough time learning to use is the kayak paddle! And the body that operates it." So do you think any training course for kayakers should start by emphasising paddling fitness and paddle skills? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The first course I ever attended for aspiring kayakers (sea kayaking in this case) was given by two volunteer ocean kayak association club members who gave of their time freely and liberally to the students who attended their courses. The first session was held in a classroom near the pool. One of the coaches was a well-known-in-Victoria lawyer (a really nice, flawlessly elegant orator) and a crusty, foul-mouthed former deep-sea fisherman who had witnessed more than his fair share of grief off the coast of BC and Alaska. It was an amusing alliance to witness at times, but the two men effectively communicated the realities of the sea. in no uncertain terms. The only thing profitable going on was the thoroughly informative, often gritty information we were given. While we did continue on through the course eventually graduating from pool sessions to sheltered water and then out to open water paddling, the first two things we learned in that classroom that first day (those many years ago for me now), were the hard facts on drowning and hypothermia. First impressions can stick with you for a lifetime. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC Peter T said: > "And the one piece of equipment that many people really don't spend > enough time learning to use is the kayak paddle! And the body that > operates it." > So do you think any training course for kayakers should start by > emphasising paddling fitness and paddle skills? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug said "...the first two things we learned in that classroom that first day (those many years ago for me now), were the hard facts on drowning and hypothermia. First impressions can stick with you for a lifetime." Yet you have still been prepared to go out in high winds and marginal conditions and push the envelope. I'm still reeling after Andrew McAuley pushing his limits so far and failing. Leaves you wondering a lot. How do you comprehend your own mortality or anyone else's. What's a fair risk? If you take a risk and get away with it, you're a hero. If you fail and die, you were a reckless fool. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter Treby wrote: > How do you comprehend your own mortality or anyone else's. What's a fair > risk? If you take a risk and get away with it, you're a hero. If you > fail and die, you were a reckless fool. No one else decides that for you. The hero/reckless fool categorization is a media creation, and is not based on much knowledge or competent information. I would not think of Andrew as a fool or a hero, dead or alive. He was just a guy doing something he was driven to do. And, he died trying. Sometimes "stuff" happens. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
" If you take a risk and get away with it, you're a hero. If you fail and die, you were a reckless fool. " Dave wrote: "The hero/reckless fool categorization is a media creation, and is not based on much knowledge or competent information. " The hero/fool divide is seen in journalist's choices in how they spin a story, sure. So far, the Australian and New Zealand media have been restrained about Andrew, in what I've read. No condemnation, anyway. Media interest has now passed. But there is a real division. Anyone taking great risk like Andrew, with whatever skill and preparation, is still going to need a good dose of luck. If "stuff happens", did the adventurer understand the magnitude of the impending disaster before taking on the risk? Does anyone really have an idea of what they are doing when playing with their own life? Modern affluent societies insulate people against death. It more often occurs out of sight in a hospital wards, rather than side-by-side hand-to-hand combat. Is a life-threatening risk an essential part of high-end adventure? I feel it is likely that someone else will eventually try a trans Tasman Sea kayak crossing, under the 40th parallel, and succeed. That person will need to make a life and death decision whether to launch, before committing to the crossing. What nerve will be required! Will it be worth it? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi guys, check the link: http://www.crossingtheditch.com.au/ I think they postponed the crossing for the next year. Cheers, Ari ----- On 25. maalis 2007, at 04:15, Peter Treby wrote: > > I feel it is likely that someone else will eventually try a trans > Tasman Sea kayak crossing, under the 40th parallel, and succeed. That > person will need to make a life and death decision whether to launch, > before committing to the crossing. What nerve will be required! Will > it be worth it? *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Quoting Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au>: > Doug said "...the first two things we learned in that classroom that > first day (those many years ago for me now), were the hard facts on > drowning and hypothermia. First impressions can stick with you for a > lifetime." > Yet you have still been prepared to go out in high winds and marginal > conditions and push the envelope. I'm still reeling after Andrew > McAuley pushing his limits so far and failing. Leaves you wondering a > lot. How do you comprehend your own mortality or anyone else's. What's > a fair risk? If you take a risk and get away with it, you're a hero. If > you fail and die, you were a reckless fool. > Someone said "All's well that ends well". Must have been an outdoors person. BRC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mar 24, 2007, at 8:55 AM, Bradford R. Crain wrote: > Someone said "All's well that ends well". Must have been an > outdoors > person. That would have been Shakespeare. Paul Montgomery paul_at_paddleandoar.com http://paddleandoar.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Paul Montgomery wrote: > On Mar 24, 2007, at 8:55 AM, Bradford R. Crain wrote: > >> Someone said "All's well that ends well". Must have been an >> outdoors >> person. > > That would have been Shakespeare. The Globe theatre had no roof! He was an outdoors person! Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Well, though we we know that Mr. S. did not paddle, he was quite accurate... Please do follow what Torben and I are finding... Cheers, Ari - lurking so many years *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>> Doug said "...the first two things we learned in that classroom that >> first day (those many years ago for me now), were the hard facts on >> drowning and hypothermia. First impressions can stick with you for a >> lifetime." Petet T said: > Yet you have still been prepared to go out in high winds and marginal > conditions and push the envelope. I'm still reeling after Andrew McAuley > pushing his limits so far and failing. Leaves you wondering a lot. How do > you comprehend your own mortality or anyone else's. What's a fair risk? If > you take a risk and get away with it, you're a hero. If you fail and die, > you were a reckless fool. That's just it, I did then work hard to become "prepared" to go out in high winds and marginal conditions. Those preparations did include the two things you mentioned earlier, namely fitness and paddle skills. I took those more seriously than gear and gadgets, and I took them seriously, precisely due to the threats of drowning and hypothermia drilled into me. I learned to skull and roll in combat conditions post haste. I worked out at the gym with weights three days a week and trained aerobically three times a week. I took courses on boat handling and seamanship/navigation with Derek Hutchinson (a style of paddling new to Canadian waters at the time; previously only river kayakers bothered with all that stuff) and signed up at the club for navigation/tidal courses. This is all standard stuff these days I take it. I took lifeguard-skills training too. I knew I needed a backup to a missed roll, so got laughed at by some local paddlers for carrying a Matt Broze style self rescue at the time, using a half inflated water jug, which was actually effective in a narrow kayak helping prevent what now is called a paddlefloat rainbow. I added a SeaSeat when they came out immediately, though a lot of water had passed under the bilge by then. The general mood in the boating public at the time was a lackadaisical attitude toward the risks of hypothermia and drowning as evidenced by a huge push from organizations like the Red Cross, promoting and encouraging PFD use every time I walked into a mall, and further evidenced by funded research at the University of Victoria into hypothermia effects. I learned to understand local weather patterns and how, why, when and where warm and cold fronts moved through the area. Much of this was done, not in an effort of avoidance, but to plan the "perfect crime" when it came to rough water paddling. Knowledge gained from a timely understanding of your local weather can be used for avoidance or compromise, as with the knowledge of tide and current hazards. It's a paddler's choice. Same knowledge skills, applied differently - or for different reasons. I argued with guys like Matt and John Dowd in paper based forums, defending the superiority of tough-made, narrow kayaks like the Nordkapp. I knew in my heart kayaks like the Nordkapp _didn't_ actually take care of you out there. So I learned to take care of myself. I realized my kayak would cooperate with me in a rough seaway if I let it do its thing, but skills needed to be acute. I got beat up real badly, suffering agonizing shoulder tendonitis, so eventually fought of more laughs by adding a rudder and outfitting for a tight cockpit fit. I learned to stretch the correct way to avoid cramping. I spent an addition 400 hours over the next few years, modifying my kayak, while playing with hand-pump locations (based on input from harrowing ordeals), paddlefloat outrigger locations for strap down, boom-proofing rudder controls, etc. As Andrew McAuley may have found out, any inherent or missed weakness in you or your equipment will be exploited by the sea fully. Being seaworthy is so much more than just buoyancy. Your question about whether I have the ability to comprehend my own mortality or anyone else's is a valid question. I'm not sure if you were asking me or making a general statement about the comprehension levels for any paddler. Perhaps Ill answer using an email I replied to the other day, backchannel. I'll remove the recipient's words and name, other than to say they were thanking me for my contributions to Paddlewise: "Thanks (name removed). I usually try to see an issue from everyone's perspective.Maybe it's a Canadian thing - you know, don't want to offend anyone while also appearing to understand all sides taken by each respective party. Actually, over the last 30 plus years of canoeing, river kayaking, kayak touring, and rough water sea kayaking, I have a pretty good idea where the balance usually lies with respect to what works in real-world conditions, actual gear attributes, and the correct importance between elements like skill and judgment - especially how that integrates with experience. In the end, it's all about respecting the particular environment you are paddling through - in my case, mostly the open ocean and slightly more sheltered waters on really rough days. Respect of the sea sounds mutually exclusive to an attitude where one enjoys being out in harsh conditions, but in reality, the need to balance all the issues becomes finely attenuated. At least, that's what I tell myself. Take care; Safe paddling. Doug" It's kind of funny that you ask how I can comprehend my own mortality, if that is indeed what you were wondering. For better or worse, that's perhaps my point, especially being a mostly solo paddler: I've had to comprehend my own mortality many times over during the years of paddling. I seriously started doing that after that first classroom session. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC . *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter T said (snip): > But there is a real division. Anyone taking great risk like Andrew, with > whatever skill and preparation, is still going to need a good dose of > luck. If "stuff happens", did the adventurer understand the magnitude of > the impending disaster before taking on the risk? Does anyone really have > an idea of what they are doing when playing with their own life? Modern > affluent societies insulate people against death. It more often occurs out > of sight in a hospital wards, rather than side-by-side hand-to-hand > combat. My read on this is Andrew probably realized toward the end that he had bit off a huge chunk to chew on. It wasn't more than he could chew, but something did choke him dead in the end, you might say. While the magnetism of Andrew's appeal lay in his choice of using a reasonably ordinary kayak, it may have been his downfall too, given the possible failure of his home-made capsule. We will know more, I hope, when friends finish their documentary of his trip. As a general rule, your typical sea kayak isn't designed for long crossings, hence the more successful exploit with the Peter Bray styled full-canopy cockpit kayak across the very rough Atlantic. And there is really only one way to see how much you are playing with your life sea kayaking, ocean canoeing, etc. That is to do a wet exit in cold, excited seas and see how difficult your self rescue is to perform, how well your ability to pump out is (if cockpit equipped), and then also reattach your spray skirt if so equipped and required for continuance of the voyage. And just how able are you to continue with paddling, unassisted. Doug L *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter Treby said: "And the one piece of equipment that many people really don't spend enough time learning to use is the kayak paddle! And the body that operates it." So do you think any training course for kayakers should start by emphasising paddling fitness and paddle skills? My delayed reply: I was paddling in the Everglades for Spring break [with seven teenage girls and three other adults, an experience worthy of a story in itself!], so my apologies for the slow reply. I don't think any training course should ignore the body and the skills of paddle use, but I would guess that the meat of that training should be somewhere along the progression from intermediate to expert. Beginners need motivation and safety skills. Once they commit to more adventerous paddling, then the fitness, flexibility and higher skills should be empahsized. Higher skills being rolls on both sides, rudder strokes that work in many angles, braces in a lot of situations and directions, a quiver of forward strokes. The rescue and re-entry skills are critical, of course, but my balance and fitness make me less likely to need the back-up stuff. Not to dismiss the rescue/re-entry skills, but just to put fitness, flexibility and paddle skills above rescue in my daily paddles. I do things like paddle without a paddle while edging my boat in order to challenge my balance so that nature's challenges will not surprise me. I was a successful slalom racer living in Chicago (no whitewater within a hundred miles). I think the success was, in great measure, due to fooling around in my boat without a paddle while the boat is on edge. My slalom workouts in flatwater gates would include one run through the course using only the left blade, one using only the right blade, one using only my hands and one doing all the gates backwards. I have paddling obsessive-compulsive disorder. I know better than to expect everyone else to be as committed (disturbed, insane) but I think a little of that isn't so bad. When I teach "Balance and Felxibility in Your Boat" at symposiums the more advanced paddlers seem to learn a lot and like the class. I have attached it so you can see what I'm talking about. Jim Tibensky [demime 1.01e removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of WeirdStrokesFullBest.pdf] *************************************************************************** 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 3/24/2007 9:30:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, douglloyd_at_shaw.ca writes: It's kind of funny that you ask how I can comprehend my own mortality, if that is indeed what you were wondering. For better or worse, that's perhaps my point, especially being a mostly solo paddler: I've had to comprehend my own mortality many times over during the years of paddling. I seriously started doing that after that first classroom session. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It is late Saturday AM here in the Northwest. I am at my keyboard instead of pulling the boats off the car at the Columbia River bar where my mates are. We left the house at a quarter to 6 and listened to NOAA's forecast for gales and 2-3 inches of rain. At 6AM this morning I took the first exit and went home, instead. I've paddled in gales before. I've paddled in heavy rain before. I've driven through them to get to the put in before. Something told me today was a bad idea to combine these activities. Perhaps mortality was not in so much consideration, but the setting of a bad example was. Cheers, Rob G ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Setting a bad example is a consideration to be mindful about, whether real or imagined, witnessed or not. It is one issue I've never been able to quantify or qualify completely. Having done my best more recently to avoid playing in an arena where there's lots of public visibility, I strive seek more remote areas to venture. In the end, I've had to make a decision to adjudge and assess a potential paddle outing based not only on hard facts, but including intuition and gut feeling generally - and rather than concerns over public perception once I account for the variables, notwithstanding keeping a lower profile when I can. I still feel safer kayaking in gnarly sea conditions with rain than I do white water kayaking on swollen rivers - something paddlers do often and pay the ultimate sacrifice for their love of the sport. Heavy rain combined with possible low visibility in gale-force weather is one of the mixtae I try to avoid in my continuae of paddling challenges. I've had to deal with those exact combined conditions on the open sea during trips where I wasn't purposely pursuing said conditions. I certainly don't like to pursue the experience in a widespread way. I also try to avoid paddling in extreme artic-outflow winds. We all can answer Peter T's question about what is a fair risk for us individually. Absolutely. Being a bad example, per se, is somewhat more subjective no matter what your experience level. That's my take on it anyway. Doug L > It's kind of funny that you ask how I can comprehend my own mortality, if > that is indeed what you were wondering. For better or worse, that's > perhaps > my point, especially being a mostly solo paddler: I've had to comprehend > my > own mortality many times over during the years of paddling. I seriously > started doing that after that first classroom session. > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >> It is late Saturday AM here in the Northwest. I am at my keyboard instead >> of >> pulling the boats off the car at the Columbia River bar where my mates >> are. >> We left the house at a quarter to 6 and listened to NOAA's forecast for >> gales >> and 2-3 inches of rain. At 6AM this morning I took the first exit and >> went >> home, instead. I've paddled in gales before. I've paddled in heavy rain >> before. >> I've driven through them to get to the put in before. Something told me >> today was a bad idea to combine these activities. Perhaps mortality was >> not in so >> much consideration, but the setting of a bad example was. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Rob G *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
[Please remove all old content that is not pertinent to your reply including old headers and footers. It's list policy.... this post was modified to meet policy] Rob, Years ago I use to ride a motorcycle. Sometimes I'd be looking forward to a ride. I'd grab the helmet, my jacket, take the keys off the peg, throw the leg over the seat, start the engine, let it warm up, then I'd get a feeling and just shut everything down. I've learned to trust those premolitions, gut feelings, call them what you wish. Somedays you bait the bull and other days you look the bull straight in the eye and you'd better be able to recognize what's looking back at you. Sometimes walking away is the perfect example to set. gordin warner *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 3/24/07, Rcgibbert_at_aol.com <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com> wrote: > Something told me > today was a bad idea to combine these activities. Perhaps mortality was > not in so > much consideration, but the setting of a bad example was. > Years ago my wife and I untied our 32-foot sailboat from a dock at a marina in Oregon and headed out to resume our trip down to California. The weather report was good and the day was clear and nice but for some reason I had a funny feeling about the day and we opted to head up the river and tie up at a public dock in a small town about 5 miles away. By noon the wind was NW'ly at 40kts and by 3pm it was blowing 50+outside. We were laying on the grass eating ice cream cones and watching a girls' softball match. Friends who were out in that NW'ly storm were heavily damaged. And got no ice cream either. Sometimes it pays to listen to your gut feeling. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 4/2/07, James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm> wrote: > I don't think any training course should ignore the body and the skills > of paddle use.... The television program "Me versus Me" had a segment last week featuring a young female w/w paddler with 19 years experience (she started young) but who needed some skill sharpening to move her into Class 4 water. They paired her with Eric Jackson who started with paddle strokes. This young lady was good enough to do a hand roll in the pool so her years on the water were not for nothing, but Eric Jackson's paddle strokes were nothing short of awesome. And her progress using his techniques was impressive. One clip in particular that showed him ferrying across a fast-moving stream with a series of forward strokes and draw strokes was incredible to watch He made it look so easy that when his student tried the same ferry she (with a lot of experience) looked like a beginner. One of Jackson's quotes was that most paddlers do not use their paddles as well as they should. I have to agree. I always thought I was pretty good with my paddles after so many years of canoing and kayaking but watching Jackson perform that ferry was an eye opening experience for me. So I have to agree with Jim. The techniques of paddling seem so simple until you see a virtuoso in action and realize just how much you don't understand. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Jim wrote: >>>>><Snip>I think the success was, in great measure, due to fooling around in my boat without a paddle while the boat is on edge. My slalom workouts in flatwater gates would include one run through the course using only the left blade, one using only the right blade, one using only my hands and one doing all the gates backwards.<snip><<<< Now that's my idea of a learning progression. Try everything, challenge yourself, and learn (by doing) what works best for different purposes and conditions. Good instruction can help speed things up at first but instruction can also get in your way later if you don't experiment well out of the bounds of the instructors "rules". Matt Broze www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Matt wrote; >>Good instruction can help speed things up at first but instruction can also get in your way later if you don't experiment well out of the bounds of the instructors "rules". While this is certainly true in too many cases, I think a good instructor is someone who challenges the student both physically and mentally, and doesn't set any hard and fast "rules." I try to make people "think" in my classes, which at least in my opinion is the most important "skill" of all. Craig Junger wrote; >>I always thought I was pretty good with my paddles after so many years of canoing and kayaking but watching Jackson perform that ferry was an eye opening experience for me. I know the feeling. I had the privilege of spending a weekend training with Bob Foote and Karen Knight a while back - WOW! I guess I've still got a lot of work to do :-) Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Jim sent me a copy of his list of weird strokes. It's posted at http://www.savvypaddler.com/WeirdStrokesFullBest.pdf James wrote: > When I teach "Balance and Felxibility in > Your Boat" at symposiums the more advanced paddlers seem to learn a lot > and like the class. I have attached it so you can see what I'm talking > about. > > Jim Tibensky > > [demime 1.01e removed an attachment of type application/pdf which had a name of WeirdStrokesFullBest.pdf] -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
on 4/4/07 01:40, Steve Cramer at cramersec_at_charter.net wrote: > Jim sent me a copy of his list of weird strokes. It's posted at > http://www.savvypaddler.com/WeirdStrokesFullBest.pdf > > James wrote: >> When I teach "Balance and Felxibility in >> Your Boat" at symposiums the more advanced paddlers seem to learn a lot >> and like the class. >> >> Jim Tibensky >> > At our national forum I run a session I call Silly Strokes. You know, all those daft things that get people stretching, twisting and using their blades to do more than just go forward. It is a very popular session and we all have a lot of fun. It is based, very closely, on a section from Alan Byde's original, "Living Canoeing" and an article in Sea Kayaker by Nigel Foster. Well, this year I was busted! Both Alan and Nigel were at the forum and I felt like a plagiarist. Both were gracious in their praise that their ideas were being carried on. Phew. Cheers JKA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:44 PDT