Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, the whole single malt family – b. roberts (again)

So I was out on the water playing around in a friends NDK Greenlander. Which by the way is a nice, very fast kayak. The Greenlander has a very traditional look and sports a unique high pointy tail. One thing I noticed quickly is that an 18 foot, hard chined, low-rocker boat just doesn’t turn on a dime. You have to lay it over a bit to get a good response from your sweep. So with Mary sitting on the shore just a few yards away I said something like “well, this is a bear to turn. .” and before I could even get to the bit about needing to edge it, a guy on shore who overheard me shouted back, “You have to lean a Greenland Kayak!”. Ok, well yes, I know that. But saying to someone, “Yeah, I know” always sounds a bit rude. So I just took his advice quietly. He doesn’t know me from anyone. Maybe he thought I had never been in a kayak before, let alone a “GREENLAND” style kayak. So without thinking too much about it I started rolling the boat. Standard, extended paddle, arm pit roll, angel roll etc., Now to be fair the first time I do an angel in any boat I’m not familiar with I tend to really slap the paddle. Then when I get to understand the boat I can slow it down and ease the paddle out to roll off it. So, back to the story. . As soon as I came up this guy on the shore shouts out to me again, “Do that again!”. “What?” I said. “let me see you do that again.” he said in an obviously condescending tone. So now my ire was up and I said quietly but firmly. “That’s ok, I don’t really need any advice.” Ouch! As he walked away he said something like, “Gee, I didn’t know we were all that good.”

Interesting how words and tone of voice can take what can be a positive experience and leave a bad taste. You see, the guy on the shore had no idea what my skills were for good or bad. Yet he was quick to assume I was daft as a brush. (Which I can be sometimes by the way) or at least unfamiliar with edging a boat. By assuming I did not know how to turn the boat he risked offending me. And did. I’m pretty easy going, but on the other hand I just hate being spoken down too. Then with that kind of introduction, following up by unkindly wanting to judge my rolling technique he killed the opportunity to teach. Which is what probably motivated him to speak in the first place.

What if he would have said something like, “Ever paddled a Greenlander before?” or “Yeah, with that low rocker you really need to lay ‘em over”. Or something else more conversational? Just removing the know-it-all attitude could have made way for a good conversation. How about with the roll? Could he have said, “Nice roll, how’s it feel in that boat?”, That would have allowed the other person, me in this case, to talk about about my experience and skill level. He could have then judged if he could share some tips that would help me with the roll. In this case I know he could have had some good tips because I know him to be a skilled Greenland style roller.

It’s something like when people see me practicing at Devil’s Lake. Often Mary & Gryphon will be on the beach and occasionally someone will ask Mary if I’m ok. To someone who’s not used to seeing boats upside down it can look pretty scary to see you roll over and not come right back up. But on the other hand if they just ran and called 911 every time there would be some problems as well. Luckily most of the time they ask or shout out to me to check in. I appreciate their caring. I also appreciate that they don’t assume I’m drowning and call the rescue squad.

To be a good teacher you need to really understand the abilities of your student. You have to understand where they are at, and then build from there. You can’t just stand on a tower and make gifts of your “vast knowledge”. They may not want it or need it. How do you know unless you ask? What’s that phrase?, “Never Assume, because when you assume you make an a……”

Later that day I sat on the shore and watched my Greenland nemesis rolling. After performing a beautiful behind the back (Spine) roll, I spoke out to him, “Wow, that was beautiful!”, I said. After pausing for a moment, he looked over at me and said, “thank you”. See, that was’nt so hard! Now I’ve got a little tip for you. . .