You can also float on back ( but still wear a life jacket)😊

This is deeply satisfying. It's like the son and the dad are one.

😀 "Promosm"

Always remember! If you are the Captain don't call left or right. Your team is not that smart. Always say "this a way" or "that a way".

Thank you all for your time, energy, guidance and hard work! Great information & updates. - Kristin Thomas, ACA SUP Competition Council representative

This video shows nothing about effectively swimming in real swift water! Nothing about setting a ferry angle with one’s body etc. Also, nothing about having dangling items from a PFD was addressed. Yet another insufficient ACA operation.

I don’t really feel that the leadership of ACA really does consider the actual value of its members. The only time people are valued is the three minutes when the payment is being processed for the persons membership fee. After the organization gets a persons money then that is that. I am pleased to see that there is at least a video which superficially tells people: “how valuable they are” the reality is that actions speak louder than words. This entity fails to show people proper respect. The system is dysfunctional and disorganized. The upper echelon leadership knows nothing about the sport. This organization is frustrating to deal with and for what one pays yearly in membership fees they get limited actual support in return. When there is an issue to resolve a person is devalued and disrespected. The national team coaching staff disrespects female athletes. The organization deprioritized women’s sport. The organization fails its membership consistently and when there is a long term project that the organization states it supports it half does things and ruins the point of the endorsement all together for the people that are there pushing things forward to do the work then the organizational leadership claims to have no knowledge of wrong doing simply because the leadership changes more often than I change my socks. There is no consistency. There is no follow through and this organization is not worth being a member of.

All I have to state is that those who fail to take time to have the respect enough to actually read and consider what a person is stating are truly not worth one’s time. Why is a book required to explain to people how to show respect? When people assume that their level of importance is so great that they don’t need to take the time to fully consider what a colleague or customer is trying to state then in my opinion that individual needs an attitude adjustment not a book. The problem is not that most people don’t understand how to communicate it is that in many cases most people who are scanning the email may lack respect. If a customer or collogue sends an email take time to read it and respond in a respectful fashion or just call the person. Find out the point sometimes there is a clear point that is being made that needs to be understood. A message that is too short may not get the required point across in every situation. The problem is that people have forgotten how to show respect to their fellows.

Running mouths and zero information provided! Where is the value that the ACA provides! This is yet another wasted bit of time. Organize prior to yapping and wasting peoples time! Why is this a posted video? This precursor commentary for 10 minutes prior limits the efficacy of this forum!

Where are the courses to train people to coach competition based disciplines? What is being added to the instructor curriculum that outlines sections on ethics? The International Surf Federation has curriculums that include an entire section on ethics as it applies to proper conduct of instructors. Where is the ACAs inclusion of this? Also, where are the basic precursor fitness evaluations for instructor candidates. Why doesn’t the ACA set precursory swim Standards? Why isn’t a basic water rescue course module included with the instructor courses?

Ok so all of these videos are being made but where are the instructor training courses? What is being done to create more courses that will be accessible? There are too few courses that exist to train instructors. Where are all the sport specific coaches trainings for the competition sport disciplines?

I would like to see the ACA start to actually do fitness and swim assessments of instructor candidates. The ISA does this. How many ACA instructors actually have the ability to preform a swim based paddle sport rescue?

No one seems to ask the basic question of swimming skills? The ACA seems to focus on these soft skills of how does everyone feel etc? What about the basic skill of being able to swim? The ISA (international surf federation) assesses the overall swim related fitness of its instructors prior to certification. I’ve never once seen the ACA do this. Basic physical fitness and overall competency in the water period is what is going to make sure that the patrons remain safe. It does not matter how much they check in with each other people learning to kayak are going to swim. They need to be comfortable with this skill first. Also, as far as giving a briefing 90 percent of the people are going to forget 90 percent of what they are told. An instructor needs to have the skills and ability to monitor the class and be prepared for the mistakes that will happen. Over explaining something to a person won’t solidify the knowledge. People have to spend time learning and preforming the skill. Some explanation is important but when the event becomes more of a social hour or a forum for an instructor to hear themselves talk then it is a waste of a students time.

All this is nice but where is the basic observation that a paddler needs to be able to have basic swimming skills?

It is difficult to see where the ACA is promoting diversity in paddle sport when the only people that ever seem to speak for the ACA are white! The same people always seem to be mouthpieces for this organization! Yet the ACA states that diversity, equity and inclusion are an important part of its agenda. Surely, the organization can find a few subject matter experts from the paddle sport community, to speak on these issues representing more diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Is the ACA truly making inroads on the front of DEI or is this simply the fashion statement of the hour? Clearly the questions for this forum are being manufactured by women who have never worked in all male dominated fields. Looking feminine etc should not be superseded by overall subject matter competence in a field area. Women need to be respected and seen as professionals and in order for that to occur women have to conduct themselves in a respectful fashion. Even then one may still be viewed as a second class citizen. Women in the paddle sport industry are there to work and they deserve the same respect and consideration for their efforts. Women should not just be seen as there to provide entertainment for male guides, athletes or managers. With this being stated women need to pull their weight and not just expect to flirt and get the men to pull their load for them. The industry has favored the image of the blonde haired fair haired princess it is what it is. Women no matter what they look like or who they are need to pull their weight. That is it. They need to do the job to the same quality and standards of their male counterparts if the expectation is that they will be truly respected and included. It is the way it is. Nothing more or less should be the expectation of women. The problem occurs when women do deliver the best and they still are harassed and discriminated against. This is a real issue in the whitewater industry and on national teams especially in the Olympic disciplines. Weak men who fail to themselves meet standards are always the ones that desire to keep women in a second class role or in this day in time pretend to be a woman to gain access to entitlements that they are too weak in their natural abilities as men to obtain. What is real is that there are the strong and the weak. Men that are weak need to accept that fact and not try to go steal the identity of women to get a leg up. This is not something I can truly respect no matter how much political correctness tells me I need to. Accept, your place as a weak male sportsman and move out. Not everyone can win. It is the way it is. The bottom line here is that I should not have to put on my shortest most reveling attire to show that I am a woman. The problem is not about looking a certain way it is about respect and that is all. I am not there as a fellow employee to be a mistress I am there to do a job as a paddle sports professional and that is all. Women need to understand this and not be afraid to state this bodily even if it means punching someone in the nuts that does not understand.

Take the navigation rules with a pinch of salt. Sometimes it's better to go on the wrong side of buoys to avoid power boats.

Great point by Michael about the cost of annual membership for PSF and CPL only paddlers who tend to be camp or community oriented moreso than paddling geeks such as those of us who become instructors or ITs. Perceived value is an important aspect of membership also. PSF/CPL membership fee should be a one time fee for the term of the validity of their training - renewal annual memberships are easy to let lapse.

She really said people shouldn't drink or do drugs on the river. Must have never met a raft guide before lol

It would be great to have another L1/L2 instructor symposium with the opportunity to earn the psf and/or cpl cert.

Haces aburrido un video de como no hacer esto.

Promo sm

Does the smart waiver check if the person's membership is current? I think PACs have problems checking memberships to fill out the correct fee amount to send in and put on the Final Report. If the smart waiver does check then that would be super helpful for PACs! Thanks!!!

Can we get the ACA staff back up and findable on the website? Helps us know who our go to's are and get to know them.

Thanks Anna!

Anna, thank you for making the video messsge. It's good to put a face and voice to the SEIC. It makes ACA more human. Keep the news coming!

I enjoyed this video and especially seeing the instructor I learned from - Mike Aronoff!! Everyone had great words of wisdom! Thank you!

If we are organizing a big clinic on multiple rivers where the destination may change due to river level changes over the weekend, how do we approach filling in the river details. In the past I've put "Area <town> rivers", is that acceptable?

Talking about glass and sharp rocks and looking at open toe sandals makes me cringe. The last time I wore sandals while whitewater kayaking, it was a nightmare stepping into the river with rocks getting between my foot and sandal sole... very painful and the reason I will never wear sandals on the river again. I can only imagine the problems if glass is present.

Thank you for this! Videos are super helpful! Takes some of the apprehension, uncertainty, and ensuing stress out of the equation!

Great tips! Game Play is certainly effective.

👍👍

Excellent video, thank you ! Imagination keeps you safe

2:22 Havens story

Awesome . Thanks

What inclusion? How do real athletes ever get to compete? What events? It takes $$$ having the right connections that the average joe doesn't have

Why doesn't the American canoe association make canoeing better by making canoeing and competitions more accessible to people who actually should be participating in the Olympics

Balls

Needs more shark.

Life jackets mess up your hair.

the guys face at 3:03

Poop🤨

I’ve just read a second book on Hokulea. What struck me is the navigation by stars, sea, and sun. I’ve reached a level of understanding more so than ever before. Most important however is not about the canoe but the symbolism of the cultures that are slowly being taken away. Continue navigating. Continue teaching and restore the Polynesian culture throughout the world.

Who is the narrator in this video of "Bill Havens Sacrifice" ? If you know who it is, Please email me the answer at [email protected] Much Appreciated from Ale Baba

Is it okay to wear an Inflatable life jacket while surfing? In the event my leash breaks and I'm unable to swim to shore?

Thanks for recording the session to those of us who couldn't make it. Very helpful to hear everyone's input.

I'm glad you are both okay!! I have a 12' pelican sit on top kayak with a 2.5hp motor. I bought my boat made her my own vessel. Before my 1st freshwater adventure, i promised my boat would ALWAYS be equipped with my radio, sleep bag, tent, ditch bag to survive for a week or more. Flares, lighters, matches, other fire starting tricks, compass, clothes. Your pfd, boat, paddle and lights are your life. Even a small 10 minute kayak trip to practice, in the ocean can turn in a second!! God bless be safe.

Supdog

Does anyone know if you can go snorkeling if you are a non-swimmer?

Best video ive seen for beginners. Nice work. surprised it is 9 years old and only 32K views.

👍🇨🇦