Day 1
Today, I had to wake up early to remind Dylan to take care of the rabbits. Once he was awake to settle the rabbits, i rushed down towards Kallang SCF for the kayaking coach course. Noting that I slept 345am yesterday, I was all disorientated. For once after a long time, I would be kayaking alone in a course. Didn't quite like that. Oh wells... There is an assessment and that just added pressure to me. I told myself... I've gone through the 3 star training. I must not let myself down... Besides I kayak every week end, I hope I don't screw up.
The assessment - Stressful and "annoying"
I felt a little annoyed during the assessment. Having said that, I enjoyed the assessment... haha.. Ironical aren't I?
The assessment consisted of 3 parts.
1) J draw in a semi circle such that you leave the raft up group from the right and join the group on the right.
2) Eskimo bow rescue
3) TX rescue
I was annoyed because every organization I go to, and every course I go to, every instructor has a different set of instructions. I thought to myself "How then am I suppose to know what to do to pass this assessment?" Some of the differences are as such:
1) When J draw, instructors are observing if the hand closer to the water is submerged in the water. Yes I know that is efficiency. Nevertheless, it had not been a hard and fast rule in executing the J draw.
2) When executing the eskimo bow, instructors expected one to lean forward in the process of doing the hip flip. Water Venture however taught kayakers to just flip up on their side. During this level 1 course, it was explained that not leaning forward, we would be pushing down on the rescuer's kayak. However, in water venture we were taught such that we do not really push down on the rescuer's kayak while coming up on our side.
3) TX rescue: Some instructors teach us to ask if the capsized kayaker is alright from far. Some say it's wrong and that we should just have a hold of the capsized kayak before asking the capsized person if he is alright. The latter method assumes the rescuer is able to tell by looks that the capsized kayaker is alright or not.
Well having different schools of thought is not bad or wrong. I was just annoyed because during the test, I didn't want to fail for the reason of 'different teaching methods.' The lack of consistency is something organizations should work out, but students should not face a situation where they don't know what to do or are confused which method to perform to which tester or audience.
I had fun because I enjoy questioning various techniques to determine which is better and which is not. I'll conclude at this...
1) I agree that it is good if a paddler can have his hand slightly in water when doing a draw.
2) I disagree that leaning forward during eskimo roll removes downward pressure. I am quite certain going up side ways doesn't use that much pressure either. It is also important to go up sideways as it is a building block for the eskimo roll.
3) After a talk with Jun Ping, I conclude the TX rescue should be best done as such:
i) Paddle quickly towards the victim and ask if he is ok by shouting out to him, from there access if he is alright.
ii) Go directly parallel to his kayak with your bow facing him.
iii)Ask him to pass you his paddle
iv)Ask him to hold on to your bow
v) Move his bow such that it is parallel to your kayak
vi) With a swift motion, slide the kayak all the way until it falls over perpendicularly to the other side of the kayak.
vii) Clear the kayak, flip it over, and slide it down the same side as how you pulled it up.
viii) Align the kayak such that it is parallel to your kayak and with the stern facing the victim.
xi) Help victim in to kayak
The assessment consisted of 3 parts.
1) J draw in a semi circle such that you leave the raft up group from the right and join the group on the right.
2) Eskimo bow rescue
3) TX rescue
I was annoyed because every organization I go to, and every course I go to, every instructor has a different set of instructions. I thought to myself "How then am I suppose to know what to do to pass this assessment?" Some of the differences are as such:
1) When J draw, instructors are observing if the hand closer to the water is submerged in the water. Yes I know that is efficiency. Nevertheless, it had not been a hard and fast rule in executing the J draw.
2) When executing the eskimo bow, instructors expected one to lean forward in the process of doing the hip flip. Water Venture however taught kayakers to just flip up on their side. During this level 1 course, it was explained that not leaning forward, we would be pushing down on the rescuer's kayak. However, in water venture we were taught such that we do not really push down on the rescuer's kayak while coming up on our side.
3) TX rescue: Some instructors teach us to ask if the capsized kayaker is alright from far. Some say it's wrong and that we should just have a hold of the capsized kayak before asking the capsized person if he is alright. The latter method assumes the rescuer is able to tell by looks that the capsized kayaker is alright or not.
Well having different schools of thought is not bad or wrong. I was just annoyed because during the test, I didn't want to fail for the reason of 'different teaching methods.' The lack of consistency is something organizations should work out, but students should not face a situation where they don't know what to do or are confused which method to perform to which tester or audience.
I had fun because I enjoy questioning various techniques to determine which is better and which is not. I'll conclude at this...
1) I agree that it is good if a paddler can have his hand slightly in water when doing a draw.
2) I disagree that leaning forward during eskimo roll removes downward pressure. I am quite certain going up side ways doesn't use that much pressure either. It is also important to go up sideways as it is a building block for the eskimo roll.
3) After a talk with Jun Ping, I conclude the TX rescue should be best done as such:
i) Paddle quickly towards the victim and ask if he is ok by shouting out to him, from there access if he is alright.
ii) Go directly parallel to his kayak with your bow facing him.
iii)Ask him to pass you his paddle
iv)Ask him to hold on to your bow
v) Move his bow such that it is parallel to your kayak
vi) With a swift motion, slide the kayak all the way until it falls over perpendicularly to the other side of the kayak.
vii) Clear the kayak, flip it over, and slide it down the same side as how you pulled it up.
viii) Align the kayak such that it is parallel to your kayak and with the stern facing the victim.
xi) Help victim in to kayak
After assessment
After the assessment, we practiced back paddling to the opposite side of kallang riverside park for lunch at beach road. Having paid much for the course, I decided to eat something cheap... A bowl of cheap noodles. After lunch, we practiced single paddle paddling. Thanks to my 1 star coach 'Kelvin Lim' who ever questioned me how I was able to achieve paddling single sided, I was able to control my kayak where I wanted with ease while paddling on one side.
My skill was refined further when Mr Roger brought to my notice that my stern rudder was too slanted and hence causing a huge amount of drag. I'll have to work on that, and that is why it is in bold and red.
My skill was refined further when Mr Roger brought to my notice that my stern rudder was too slanted and hence causing a huge amount of drag. I'll have to work on that, and that is why it is in bold and red.
Back to class
It was single paddling till we reached class. In class we learnt what a coach is, safety assessments, how do we answer students if we are uncertain of the answer, or there are just too many questions. Then Jun Ping brought us around to see the various kayaks.
1) Tourer - These are sea kayaks, long and from my observation often yellow with slight orange.
2) K boat - This represents kayak boat, this really refers to the red YOG kayaks Singapore has. Oh my it looks like a seat for the super comfortable.
3) C boat - This represents canoe boat, this too refers to the blue YOG canoe Singapore has. In the cockpit, the paddler can kneel down and strap his legs in
4) Acrobat - This is a canoe polo kayak. A more obvious way of determining a canoe polo kayak would be the aft deck of the kayak. Canoe Polo kayaks have very flat aft decks. Not mentioned in this course, but i remember hearing elsewhere that a canoe polo also has very flat hull for easy turning. It's bow and stern is also padded to reduce any impact during crashes which occur during the game.
5) Wave hopper - This kayak looks really weird. I have no idea how to explain its looks except that I'll have to get a picture of it hopefully. According to JunPing, this kayak looks stable but is in fact hard to maintain stability. I remember its aft deck to be much bigger than its fore deck. This is so that in rapid water (eg water falls), the kayak will be able to maintain at the top of water. Due to the falling water from waterfalls, a suction is created at the base where the water fall ends. The huge aft deck prevents the kayak from being sucked downwards.
6) Surf Ski kayak - A long, narrow, lightweight kayak, usually with a foot pedal controlled rudder.
7) C1, C2 kayak - This refers to tourer kayaks, and C1 means 1 person can kayak only, C2 means 2 person can kayak in a single craft.
We then learn about chines.
Soft chine kayaks have higher stability, while hard chime kayaks have lower stability.
Chine refers to the transition between the base of the kayak and the sides of the kayak.
Extra info?
Paddle culture's kayaks have shifted off... No longer in the SCF kallang compound.
Finally, Jun Ping showed us how to prepare a self made tow rope using a water knot. Quite an interesting knot. To cut the tow line, one burns the pen knife until it is red hot, before cutting down on to the top rope. This prevents fraying, and aids the cutting process. The tow rope should be around 3m long.
1) Tourer - These are sea kayaks, long and from my observation often yellow with slight orange.
2) K boat - This represents kayak boat, this really refers to the red YOG kayaks Singapore has. Oh my it looks like a seat for the super comfortable.
3) C boat - This represents canoe boat, this too refers to the blue YOG canoe Singapore has. In the cockpit, the paddler can kneel down and strap his legs in
4) Acrobat - This is a canoe polo kayak. A more obvious way of determining a canoe polo kayak would be the aft deck of the kayak. Canoe Polo kayaks have very flat aft decks. Not mentioned in this course, but i remember hearing elsewhere that a canoe polo also has very flat hull for easy turning. It's bow and stern is also padded to reduce any impact during crashes which occur during the game.
5) Wave hopper - This kayak looks really weird. I have no idea how to explain its looks except that I'll have to get a picture of it hopefully. According to JunPing, this kayak looks stable but is in fact hard to maintain stability. I remember its aft deck to be much bigger than its fore deck. This is so that in rapid water (eg water falls), the kayak will be able to maintain at the top of water. Due to the falling water from waterfalls, a suction is created at the base where the water fall ends. The huge aft deck prevents the kayak from being sucked downwards.
6) Surf Ski kayak - A long, narrow, lightweight kayak, usually with a foot pedal controlled rudder.
7) C1, C2 kayak - This refers to tourer kayaks, and C1 means 1 person can kayak only, C2 means 2 person can kayak in a single craft.
We then learn about chines.
Soft chine kayaks have higher stability, while hard chime kayaks have lower stability.
Chine refers to the transition between the base of the kayak and the sides of the kayak.
Extra info?
Paddle culture's kayaks have shifted off... No longer in the SCF kallang compound.
Finally, Jun Ping showed us how to prepare a self made tow rope using a water knot. Quite an interesting knot. To cut the tow line, one burns the pen knife until it is red hot, before cutting down on to the top rope. This prevents fraying, and aids the cutting process. The tow rope should be around 3m long.