Comments on: Hang On http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/ Tilting At Waves Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:23:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mark Pecot http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9795 Mark Pecot Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:34:32 +0000 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=5425#comment-9795 The ACA has long held that instructors should assess at a level higher than the level they are certified to teach, yet they seem to have abandoned that principle here. I have no problem with the p-float rescue being dropped from the L1 curriculum. As others have pointed out here, this introductory class is designed to be taught in anything that floats: inflatables; sit-on-tops; rec boats; sea kayaks; etc., and a p-float may not be appropriate for some of these craft (some may argue it's not appropriate for any craft, but that's a whole other can of worms!). But it seems to me that an INSTRUCTOR should be familiar with the rescue, at least in order to field questions about it or demonstrate it if asked. But that's my two cents. L1 standards are no longer part of the Coastal Kayak Committee's oversight, so this was news to me. On the other hand, we've made great strides in harmonizing the instructional and assessment tracks for L2-L5 sea kayaking. More info is on the ACA website: http://www.americancanoe.org --Mark Pecot L4 IT, ACA Coastal Kayak Committee The ACA has long held that instructors should assess at a level higher than the level they are certified to teach, yet they seem to have abandoned that principle here. I have no problem with the p-float rescue being dropped from the L1 curriculum. As others have pointed out here, this introductory class is designed to be taught in anything that floats: inflatables; sit-on-tops; rec boats; sea kayaks; etc., and a p-float may not be appropriate for some of these craft (some may argue it’s not appropriate for any craft, but that’s a whole other can of worms!). But it seems to me that an INSTRUCTOR should be familiar with the rescue, at least in order to field questions about it or demonstrate it if asked.

But that’s my two cents.

L1 standards are no longer part of the Coastal Kayak Committee’s oversight, so this was news to me. On the other hand, we’ve made great strides in harmonizing the instructional and assessment tracks for L2-L5 sea kayaking. More info is on the ACA website: http://www.americancanoe.org

–Mark Pecot
L4 IT, ACA Coastal Kayak Committee

]]> By: MarcP http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9789 MarcP Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:18:25 +0000 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=5425#comment-9789 Great comments. I like especially what David questions (Does the shotgun idea work or waste time and lead to confusion or poor learning?) and what Alex says about a beginner course's priorities: Wet Exit. ROLL. Paddle strokes. New mandatory warning signs we won't be seeing: "This paddle craft is (can be) impossible to self-rescue. Use only close to shore in calm conditions or on small lakes and calm rivers." "This kayak is considered to be unrollable. Take additional precautions. Paddle only on small bodies of water with other paddlers." "Paddle sober." This one is found on many manufacturer's general safety stickers. "When you go paddling take your wit and intelligence with you." Imagine if the really short and really wide rec boats came with a sticker... "If you buy this paddle craft and capsize, your craft will no longer be a safe floating rescue situation." How many would the big box or paddling shops sell? "This paddle craft is completely lacking in any hand-holds or methods of getting back on if you were to find yourself falling out of or off of this craft. If your hands are cold and wet and you are at all tired, you haven't got a prayer. How's the water temperature?" We return to the quandry of getting a buyer of a three to five hundred dollar cheapie to pay a hundred bucks or more for a beginner class. They won't usually. They don't regularly. The question I'm discovering is: How much do we scare them into taking a course before we scare them off the water? Fun Paddling! MarcP Great comments. I like especially what David questions (Does the shotgun idea work or waste time and lead to confusion or poor learning?) and what Alex says about a beginner course’s priorities: Wet Exit. ROLL. Paddle strokes.

New mandatory warning signs we won’t be seeing:

“This paddle craft is (can be) impossible to self-rescue. Use only close to shore in calm conditions or on small lakes and calm rivers.”

“This kayak is considered to be unrollable. Take additional precautions. Paddle only on small bodies of water with other paddlers.”

“Paddle sober.” This one is found on many manufacturer’s general safety stickers.

“When you go paddling take your wit and intelligence with you.”

Imagine if the really short and really wide rec boats came with a sticker… “If you buy this paddle craft and capsize, your craft will no longer be a safe floating rescue situation.” How many would the big box or paddling shops sell?

“This paddle craft is completely lacking in any hand-holds or methods of getting back on if you were to find yourself falling out of or off of this craft. If your hands are cold and wet and you are at all tired, you haven’t got a prayer. How’s the water temperature?”

We return to the quandry of getting a buyer of a three to five hundred dollar cheapie to pay a hundred bucks or more for a beginner class. They won’t usually. They don’t regularly. The question I’m discovering is: How much do we scare them into taking a course before we scare them off the water?

Fun Paddling!
MarcP

]]> By: Rich http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9780 Rich Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:40:00 +0000 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=5425#comment-9780 Wouldn't it make sense to teach self-rescue techniques appropriate to the type of "paddlecraft" that the student is using rather than dropping the subject altogether? A significant number of kayakers paddle solo at least once in a while, and an "all-in" situation is not that uncommon with a pair of relatively inexperienced kayakers attempting an assisted rescue. As far as swimming your boat to shore, with a strong offshore wind, you can be ten feet off shore in deep water and not be able to swim your boat back to shore. The BCU's position is equally misguided in my opinion. In "raging waters" pretty much any self-rescue may be ineffective. How many times can you roll up and be knocked over again before this too fails. Perhaps just teach fatalism and the value of a good will? Regarding rolling, it should be pointed out that some "paddlecraft" are not designed to roll. Wouldn’t it make sense to teach self-rescue techniques appropriate to the type of “paddlecraft” that the student is using rather than dropping the subject altogether? A significant number of kayakers paddle solo at least once in a while, and an “all-in” situation is not that uncommon with a pair of relatively inexperienced kayakers attempting an assisted rescue. As far as swimming your boat to shore, with a strong offshore wind, you can be ten feet off shore in deep water and not be able to swim your boat back to shore. The BCU’s position is equally misguided in my opinion. In “raging waters” pretty much any self-rescue may be ineffective. How many times can you roll up and be knocked over again before this too fails. Perhaps just teach fatalism and the value of a good will? Regarding rolling, it should be pointed out that some “paddlecraft” are not designed to roll.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9779 Bryan Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:12:38 +0000 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=5425#comment-9779 I'm mixed, because it's a good exercise that beginners can learn--it adds a sense of accomplishment. But learners, like sea kayakers, that may need it can jump to a Level 2 class without having to go through Level 1, so it's really not limiting instruction. More likely, it's just making the Level 1 class more appropriate to the reality of students that are going to take that class. I’m mixed, because it’s a good exercise that beginners can learn–it adds a sense of accomplishment. But learners, like sea kayakers, that may need it can jump to a Level 2 class without having to go through Level 1, so it’s really not limiting instruction. More likely, it’s just making the Level 1 class more appropriate to the reality of students that are going to take that class.

]]> By: alex http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2009/10/29/hang-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9775 alex Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:24:07 +0000 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=5425#comment-9775 While I think the paddle float rescue sucks, there is still value in having intro students play with it. First of all, they get to play in the water with their kayak which helps their comfort level and secondly, they begin to comprehend the ramifications of capsize by struggling to get back in the kayak. Granted, in my level 1 curriculum, it go as follows: 1. Learn to wet exit 2. Learn to roll 3. Learn to paddle While I think the paddle float rescue sucks, there is still value in having intro students play with it. First of all, they get to play in the water with their kayak which helps their comfort level and secondly, they begin to comprehend the ramifications of capsize by struggling to get back in the kayak.

Granted, in my level 1 curriculum, it go as follows:
1. Learn to wet exit
2. Learn to roll
3. Learn to paddle

]]>