Following on from the Magic Bus thread on strokes, I am trying to set out a little hour long practice routine for me and the little lad. At 8 yrs old he is super keen to get in the boat solo and I'd hate him to lose that enthusiasm.
So, being 10 mins from the canal I am trying to devise some sort of routine where we can practice all the strokes in an hour or two a couple of times a week. This will help us both.
Does anyone have such a routine or do you guys just dip in and do whatever comes on that trip?
I know some of this needs an experienced eye to catch the subtle quirks one introduces during practice, but essentially we both just want to get to a point where "muscle memory" takes over and we don't have to consciously think of the stroke...
Hope that makes sense, look forward to your lively and witty responses
Mike
Mike my friend, honestly dont think we have met, but I will tell you how I learnt to paddle an open canoe, no prior experience as a youngster in a Kayak or anything like that.
At the time of purchasing my first canoe ( Old Town Alagash 164) I purchased along with BA, Dry Bags phone, GPS bags Rescue Knife, Canoe boots, floating rope, Spent just over £1000-00, and before I paid I picked up a Video, no DVD then of Path of the Paddle by Bill Mason, well to say I watched it a dozen times would be an understatement, and one thing that I latched onto was the words, any combination of the strokes shown is ok.
I and my friend whom purchased exactly the same as I went on the local canal and practised all we had learnt watching the Video, and developed stroke, mine being a combination of the J and Indian stroke and it worked for me and still does some five years later, my mate does what he calls a Canadian stroke, and that works for him.
My friend if you want perfection and strive to obtain * awards then seek professional Tuition, if like me you just want to paddle from A to B safely then follow my route, but I do hasten to add that friends I have made on here and else where have helped me along with good advice and a little tuition, above all All I strive for only enjoyment, and I have a 10* Grade.
All the very best Enjoy, Best Regards Bill.
I found the more I consciously thought about the stroke the worse it got. But then it soon becomes second nature.
Never really made time to practice strokes. But I have and do watch others which helps, assuming they're doing things vaguely right too.
Bill. Mike was at the EoSM. I know it was an exciting fun-packed weekend which seemed to pass within a blink of an eye, but please try to stay awake next time.
I would advise you to start with something that's easy, and for the little fella something small, then build on that stroke as you both gain more confidence.
Once your both able to complete the strokes separately you can try joining them up, so, for instance, you could build up to stroking the Hamster and the Cat at the same time, with total confidence....
Cheers
Red.
Canalvoyageur Wrote:... up a Video, no DVD then of Path of the Paddle by Bill Mason, well to say I watched it a dozen times would be an understatement, and one thing that I latched onto was the words, any combination of the strokes shown is ok.
Thanks guys, I like Path of the Paddle, old Bill Mason makes it look so easy. Must actually watch it all the way through. Have watched the basic strokes, but need to watch it all a few times.
I'm not necessarily thinking of good old *'s, more if I take on the white frothy stuff. Seems there are lots of ways to get out of trouble should you need to (guarentee I'll get into it at some point!). But the first time you need a stroke shouldn't be the first time you use it ... that's more what I is thinking
(05-11-09 10:44 PM)Nige Wrote: [ -> ]Bill. Mike was at the EoSM. I know it was an exciting fun-packed weekend which seemed to pass within a blink of an eye, but please try to stay awake next time.
I am easy to miss though, quiet fellow until I get to know peeps. Then you can't shut me up. Don't say I haven't warned you
Green self-build that brought up the rear. Had a bow paddler that thought it was fun to keep stopping paddling. You could probably hear my
every now and again and the swish of water as I applied braking in shear frustration of spinning around in a circle yet again
If I'd practised more I would have known what stroke to correct him with
(05-11-09 10:56 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]I would advise you to start with something that's easy, and for the little fella something small, then build on that stroke as you both gain more confidence.
He likes practising the "J" and does understand the difference between a sweep and a draw which is a good start in my book, kept telling my bow paddler what they were
(05-11-09 10:56 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]Once your both able to complete the strokes separately you can try joining them up, so, for instance, you could build up to stroking the Hamster and the Cat at the same time, with total confidence....
An historic moment... I am lost for words.
Mike