More productive
To answer your question... Share your knowledge with them, VOLUNTARILY gather info on classes, passing that info on to your friends (during your outing) and encourage them to take the class(es) after your outing together.
brilliant and generous
thanks!
good point
fundamental transitions. Getting in/out on land, getting in/out on water.
Hazards of cold-water paddling
or even cool water paddling, how to dress, etc.
Once upon a time
I was a certified XC ski instructor. The first thing I taught beginners was that it was OK to fall, and had everyone learn how to safely fall and get up. Once everyone had lost their nervousness of falling, it was much easier to teach skills.
If water temperature is suitable, teach wet exits as others have suggested. Teach hip snaps to get an idea of how far a lean can be taken. Be aware that many newbies will not fit snugly in their rec boats and SOT paddlers may not have thigh straps. In general, help them get over their nervousness.
Jim
I’ve been thinking about this myself
My sister and her friend would like to try some paddling this summer and I've been thinking of what to show them before going out on a very simple paddle. I'm no instructor, so I know that there's a big difference between knowing and teaching, so I thought that first of all we'd use SOTs with PFDs and not go beyond very simple stuff. Here's some of my ideas so far:
- Talk about the inherent stability of the kayak and how adding a human body changes this. How sitting erect and rocking your hips to allow the boat to sit in the water and rock as it was designed to do. A little drill of rocking the hips in the boat to get a feel for it.
- How to hold the paddle. How turning the torso is a good thing, maybe have them turn from side to side to see what it feels like.
- How to do a forward stroke with emphasis on using the torso. Have them do a bit of the stiff armed forward paddle to see how that feels.
- Show a forward sweep to turn
- Show the back paddling stroke to stop
- Talk a little about safety and what happen if they tipped over. Talk about taking some real classes if they find that they really like the sport.
- Go for a short and easy paddle.
I was thinking of having a partner along to help out if needed. What do you think?
Lou
If I may interpret
Talon is saying it sound stupid to ask but…
As Lee’s wonderful post below indicates you can make it fun if you use art.
Maybe this psot was entirely unnecessary, (Hmm might have some advice for myself there)
Thanks Peter
I have trouble saying what I mean at times. Hence the reason why my foot is lodged deep in my mouth on some other posts 
Are you
A certified lifeguard? What will you do if someone falls in and begins to struggle?
Certified in CPR? What will you do if someone has a heart attack?
Certified as an EMT, or have any other medical training? What will you do if someone has some sort of medical emergency?
Do you have a mobile phone? Does it work in the location you plan to give your class? Do you know the local emergency numbers?
What will you do if one of your students gets themselves killed and their relatives sue you?
Given today’s litigious climate, there is no way that I would even consider teaching such a “class” (if I were qualified, which I am not.) without a certification from some “authority”, and liability insurance.
it’s in the course
in the latter part of an ACA IDW/ICE liability issues are covered and the general feeling one has is that people self-select their risk pretty well and that an instructor has more than enough opportunities to ensure folks stay in their comfort zone so they come away satisfied.
then of course there’s the lawsuit from hell you hear about but I think those are happening on the roadways and in restaurants more frequently than kayak instruction.
So join a paddling club
have them train you up and follow their guidelines. The help other paddlers under the club’s aegis.
It’s a rare lady or man who could see the breadwinner die, and then resist the call of the attorney: “you could sue them and be less insecure, or you can face the whirlwind.”
Most homeowners policies will cover volunteer activities. If not, a liability umbrella that would is cheap. making money by instructing is another matter!
relaxed paddle grip
that would be a good thing to emphasize. If a person has a relaxed grip they can feel the water/blade and feel abdominal efforts. Tight hands focus too much attention on a part of our body that already has a lot of nerve sensors.
You can show this standing up with a tree/post next to you. Hold the paddle and imagine twisting to the left, right hand swinging around chin level with the back of the right blade hitting the tree. SHOW that your right hand is relaxed and your forearm is in line with your wrist.
“if you want to put out effort your wrist and forearm need to be aligned.”
Change position and have the right blade come back against the tree showing the wrist in alignment with the pulling force. Keep the paddle away from your chest with minimal bending of the elbows.
Or another image…show paddle movement as though you were turning a big wheel like a brake on the back of a train with arms/hands a big circle(paddlers box),then show someone dog paddling where you’re describing two parallel circles with your hands and the paddle is pivoting at the TAP joint instead of at the center of your spine, all arms, no torso twist.
Hey Magoo!
Then there’s them winter entries into your kayak that are done any which way you can because conditions don’t allow for slip ups into that cold icy stuff, nor do you get second tries to enter your kayak!
I would suggest that they all
sign waiver forms to not hold you responsible for any injury or death that might occur during the course. Also advise them to check the MARINE forecast for their local waters via the computer/phone,etc. and to not go out when conditions are above their skill level or weather is totally bad,e.g. thunderstorms,gail force winds, hurricanes,etc. People will get to know their limits for their area as per the wave heights and knot strength.
egzackly!
You soon learn to KEEP YOUR WEIGHT ON THE SHORE SIDE!