Kayak instructors

Sorting it out
The top instructors don’t necessarily charge much more, if any, than the unknowns (who might be fine but are…unknown). You might as well ask around, get feedback from people who’ve actually studied with specific instructors they can give names of. Be aware that some of the “big name” people have advanced mentorees who are very good also. I can think of at least two such examples but neither lives in your part of the country.



You’re lucky to live on a lake! You’ll be able to frequently practice, which goes hand-in-hand with formal instruction. Good luck, and let us know how things progress.

Contact Keith Wikle who posts here
as Wikle. Keith knows the paddlers and instructors in Michigan and is also involved in two kayak symposia for skill building on Lake Michigan or Superior.

Appreciate the tips
Serendipity struck, as I learned of a full day skills class on August 4, about 25-30 miles from my home. Given by John Chase, an ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayak Instructor. Am just unsure whether I’ll take the Necky or rent a touring kayak. A controlled capsize and wet entry, as well as deep water exit and re-entry are listed on the class schedule. Given the large cockpit on the Necky, seems like it would fill up like a bathtub. I guess it might be worth capsizing it in shallow water here at home to see what happens.



Even though I’ll sign up for the August 4 class, definitely will contact the LOL folks and Keith Wikle for recommendations. I know from experience that bad habits are hard to break.



Thanks for all the suggestions!

Rent the boat AND bring yours
You need to

(a) learn how to do a successful re-entry. Easiest to learn in a touring boat. And

(b) figure out how to adapt things to manage the same in your own boat, if possible. Easiest to do by bringing your own and getting some advice with the boat in front of you.



Sounds like a plan. Have fun and hope for a hot day so the swimming will be pleasant.

2nd Keith Wikle
You can even call him to chat at 0300 if you are really snockered…

video
Buy and study Wayne Horodowitch USK instruction video’s



Wayne coached at Santa Barbara, he overstands.



Ford’s roll video is excellent. Ford’s animation allws analysis of your problem…which is lack of practice.



My roll learning and brace exercise is tops. Available here in PaddleMess



If you’re totally inept then instructors are necessary otherwise you need practice and analysis TIME which is unavailable in group therapy instruction.

Ignore datakroll

– Last Updated: Jun-10-14 9:30 AM EST –

Rhymes with troll and gee what a shock...

This entity has been posting aggressively lately and every one is a winner in terms of bad writing or downright misdirected advice. It has a point of view to promote and an individual's own needs or preferences are irrelevant.

The therapy instruction in this one is a beaut. I know many talented instructors, but not one of them claims to be a therapist.

You are on the right path to go work with someone. Just keep along it.

you’re unqualified to offer advice
Datakoll. Based on your constant hard-on for instructors and your ridiculous “foam blocks and paddle floats fix everything” philosophy.

?


A free speech Forum in America is for civil reasoned opinion and thought not judgement.



You owe the poster that.



As I wrote, I’m eating lunch using your thoughts for broadening my knowledge thru the internet.



Surely, I would not think of your thoughts without help from the free speech forum. God forbid !

troll all you want
The rest of us are just trying to caution new forum members. Anyone here long enough to read your posts can figure out the value of your contributions.

a new teacher to the area
A friend of mine recently relocated to MI to take a job at U of MI (he is one of those PhD types for his day job). He taught kayaking out here a lot, is an ACA Level 5 instructor, and even was president of the Bay Area Sea Kayakers for a while. Loves the sport. Great guy and great teacher, if you ever find your way down that way. His name is Steve Lidia. Looks like he is teaching for a shop called The Power of Water in Lansing.

datakoll’s posts
seem like what you’d get if you combined one of those refrigerator magnet word games with a hand grenade.

My thinking
Based on your description as having done a fair amount of self-study and practice, my sense is that unless you are focusing on a few discrete skills (e.g. rolling), you might be better off trying to arrange for at least one private session with an instructor that comes well recommended. This would allow the instructor to identify where your relative strengths and weaknesses are, and recommend potential drills/classes/etc that would help you get the most bang for your buck, both in terms of time and dollars.

I like it!
In fact we have some of those word magnets on the fridge right now. :slight_smile:

more trolling
As a general category ‘INSTRUCTOR’ you experience several positive teaching inputs. The instructor can alert you to basic flaws in your activity, try helping you correct, and urge practice.



The video route, you have a practice area, surpasses what an instructor can offer. The video is well thought out and planned, an on water session not so much.



A group on water experience plays out as peer group support prodded as that by the instructor, milked. Could be the peer group effect is the most important effect of the instructor experience…unless your paddle is held backwards.



I’m advocating the double float hip snap practice as vastly superior to anything an instructor can provide.



Buy one foam paddle float, one inflatable float and USK Horodowitch’s bracing video. With both float attached you may lean your kayak 90 degrees to the water surface, stretch out one arm on paddle shaft supported by floats !



Hip snap ! experience the hull’s edging areas, practice slap bracing then take the bladder float off and practice rolling.



Buy Ford’s video.



The instructor cannot coordinate this experience as you by yourself practicing. Instruction here is only confusing.



The double float practice is like electricity. Instructors are like before electricity.



BTW, Paddlenet sells this stuff ?



Troll Out to two float practice.

Now, THAT’S a good one

– Last Updated: Jun-10-14 7:34 PM EST –

I still say it's too much drug use. But I'm getting a kick out of the imagery you provided!

Lansing
Thanks for the info. Have noted his name. The lovely Red Cedar River flows thru the MSU campus. Never kayaked it, but have walked along it plenty of times years ago.

Bingo.
You’ve precisely described what I’m looking for right now. While I’m signing up for the session with John Chase in August, I think I would benefit from paddling with an expert who could point out the errors of my present ways - before I get too set in them. I have no desire whatsoever to attempt learn how to roll my Necky Rip. I don’t think it is a kayak designed for that purpose. Capsize and re-enter it? Yes, and that will be handled in the August session, or maybe before. I have a pontoon boat with a swim ladder and a couple of neighbors who would probably be amused to see me flounder around while they sit in my pontoon, shouting encouragement. Actually, that might be fun on a hot July day.

Interesting
Though I have to wonder if “stir-the-pot” might be a better handle for you. :slight_smile:



Yes, videos are wonderful. By studying them I’ve learned how to move my kayak forward and backward, how to turn it, and how to move it sideways. But anyone can manage that, even without videos.



The problem with videos is the lack of creative feedback and outside analysis of the student’s movement. You can’t ask a video questions. Nor will a video tell you if you’re holding your paddle backwards.



So while I’ll continue studying videos, I’d like someone to watch what I’m doing and tell me that a) I’m doing it correctly, or b) doing it wrong - and then suggest how to fix it. It makes no difference if you learn something in a class or in a private session, it’s still education.



Thank you for your suggestion about the Hordowitch video. Do you have a link where it’s sold?




that would be Michigan State
Not U of M -



U of M is Ann Arbor



the Harvard of the Midwest