I wish paddlers in my area would get...
Posted by: johnysmoke
on Jan-31-13 11:06 PM (EST)
I wish paddlers in my area would get training enough to pass an ACA L4 open water instructor certification. Heck even an L3 would prove entertaining. I wish paddlers in my area would get any type of training, or have any type of inclination to paddle anything above flat water conditions. I've been lucky to meet a few good paddlers who helped me get better at paddling by exposing me to challenging conditions, and I've sought out training to help with my progression. And I've met people who have got good training and got pretty good at paddling quickly, who enjoy challenging themselves, and these are the people I enjoy paddling with. But they are a small handful. Otherwise its lots of big fish in a small pond in my area, where a pool roll qualifies someone as an "experienced" paddler, even though they don't surf, paddle rough water, or do anything other than paddle flat water, yet are looked upon as "experienced" paddlers for no good reason. Very strange, especially because there are a few small but interesting features near me that are great for training or playing in, but seldom few take advantage of...