(photo by Hadas Feldman)

It’s just past noon on Sunday here in Israel and I’m done teaching for the symposium. I have to admit I’m chilled to the bone. 4 days of 2 half day classes each is a long time to stand in the water. But the experience is probably the richest I’ve had since I started paddling, which is much better than the disaster I had so feared.Honestly I came to this symposium feeling like a bit of a hack. I am not Turner Wilson, or Greg Stamer. I doubt I’ll ever have their talents. Having my name in a line with Jeff Allen & Phil Eccles was enough to produce hives. I have no legitimacy to share the bill. Sitting on the plane flying into Tel Aviv, I was so concerned that I’d be worthless I was almost hyperventilating. I doubted I could live up to the expectations. What was I doing filling a place that should have been taken by a real “top” coach!?? You take these things seriously when a shop invests in bringing you in. There were pangs of guilt. I felt the weight of taking on the first “traditional” rolling classes in a place where the spark was not yet a fire. It seemed there were some big cliffs I could easily fall off. I knew my weird mix-n-match ways are not the standard and I’m not sure how or if my methods fit into the traditional world. Heck I get some raised eyebrow reactions to my “standard” teaching methods!!

I entered into this symposium with tepid steps. Like a blind man finding my way. Still something seemed to be working. Students were learning to roll. What’s more, many were advancing much faster that I could have ever imagined. Going from Pawlata to spine rolls in one session, or Angel Roll to hand roll in minutes. All anyone really ever needed from me were those little tips that I had only gained from my many mentors. My confidence grew and with each class I came closer to finding my own skin. I felt bit better. A “bit”, tempered because I know that with so many talented people in these classes there was very little I had to do other than open a few windows and let them fly with their own wings. Still my daft methods seemed to be working. Thankfully!!

As I’ve seen so many times before in traditional rolling classes some of the women moved very fast through that first set of layback rolls. I think a time will come everywhere where women will be dominant in traditional rolling. I love seeing this happen after so many experiences working with women whose confidence had been slammed in standard rolling classes. Traditional rolling tips the balance from strength to control. I’d like to say it levels the field, but it seems to actually have unbalanced it in the other direction.

In the end I can only hope I earned my keep. I always remember my BCU training in Wales last year when I was told that my only job was to inspire paddlers to get on the water. If I did that, then they would seek out higher level coaches and move up the ladder. That one idea really took a weight of my shoulders. My goal then has been just to make it fun so that paddlers want to practice and want to learn more. If they go away chomping at the bit to get back out there, then I can feel good. My hope is that this was the one thing I may have accomplished.

Related Posts:

1. Teacher, Student, Coach, Mentor
2. lessons learned
3. guest
4. Saturday Morning Picture Show
5. the show so far