Rich Kulawiec wrote: > On Wed, Dec 20, 2006 at 03:28:05PM -0800, Brad Crain wrote: >> I know our white water canoe class never covered such things. > > If your WW canoe class didn't include basic instruction on how to > at least spot holes and understand their effects, then your WW canoe > class was inadequate. One of the first things that I try to do with > new WW paddlers is to get them to swim through a (quite benign) hole so > that they get a visceral appreciation of it. Granted, beginner paddlers > are probably not going to be capable of doing much more in a hole than > "flip and swim", but by the time they get to be intermediates, they'll > need to be able to show at least some boat control in friendly > holes and know at least a couple ways to get out of them while still > in their boats. We always try to get our students surfing on their first river run. I tell them there are two reasons for surfing: (1) it's fun and (B) someday you'll end up in a hole and if you know how to surf, you might get out upright. I usually don't make beginners swim through holes, most of them manage that in their own before the day is over. Good to hear from you, Rich. Steve -- 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Dec 21 2007 - 08:24:44 PST
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