PalmerFest and Canadian Instructor Conference
Submitted by Kent on Tue, 2007-05-22 12:15.
Palmerfest participants: 2 for 1 on any DVD titles and books through June 1st. Send me an email with a second title, after you place an order online.
I recently had opportunity to visit Canada, and visit with many of their top paddling instructors. While many of their issues are the same as instructors worldwide, some are different. I was guest speaker to Palmerfest, and thier first ever instructor symposium.
First I was struck by how Canadians are so darn polite to each other. I left with a reminder to myself to live more that way. Even though I rarely catch myself being rude, like most of us I can get caught up in being cynical, in a way that is counterproductive. They are kind to the earth too... with many of them bringing their own plates and utensils to each meal rather than opting for paper.
Most interesting to me is how Canoe instruction is going strong in Canada, unlike in some other parts of North America. I think perhaps they have such a strong heritage to canoes, that the public gravitates that direction. The result is a sport that is perhaps healthier in some ways than in the states, where "kayak extreme" has been dominating too many images of whitewater.
This is most evident at the Canadian Canoe Museum outside of Toronto, where they have hundreds of classic bark and skin boats from North American Indians. See a sample at: http://www.canoemuseum.net/about/history.asp
One instructional highlight was the "2x4" carving drill and progression articulated by Andrew Westwood. This is the best articulation I have heard for teaching forward acceleration to solo canoe paddlers. I am sure something sililar will be creaping into a class near you.
Thanks again to all the cool paddlingfolk in Canada for their hospitality.
I recently had opportunity to visit Canada, and visit with many of their top paddling instructors. While many of their issues are the same as instructors worldwide, some are different. I was guest speaker to Palmerfest, and thier first ever instructor symposium.
First I was struck by how Canadians are so darn polite to each other. I left with a reminder to myself to live more that way. Even though I rarely catch myself being rude, like most of us I can get caught up in being cynical, in a way that is counterproductive. They are kind to the earth too... with many of them bringing their own plates and utensils to each meal rather than opting for paper.
Most interesting to me is how Canoe instruction is going strong in Canada, unlike in some other parts of North America. I think perhaps they have such a strong heritage to canoes, that the public gravitates that direction. The result is a sport that is perhaps healthier in some ways than in the states, where "kayak extreme" has been dominating too many images of whitewater.
This is most evident at the Canadian Canoe Museum outside of Toronto, where they have hundreds of classic bark and skin boats from North American Indians. See a sample at: http://www.canoemuseum.net/about/history.asp
One instructional highlight was the "2x4" carving drill and progression articulated by Andrew Westwood. This is the best articulation I have heard for teaching forward acceleration to solo canoe paddlers. I am sure something sililar will be creaping into a class near you.
Thanks again to all the cool paddlingfolk in Canada for their hospitality.
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