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If you have never had any formal instruction from a quality instructor, chances are you have lots you can learn. The fact is that kayaking, like any other sport has basic fundamentals that one should know so he/she doesn't plateau too early in their paddling career. Even olympic level kayakers and professional boaters have lots of instruction. At the olympic level most boaters paddle daily with a coach. Most professional freestyle boaters can't afford a daily coach but you'll find they find ways to get coached. For example lots of upper level freestyle boaters video tape their sessions then coach themselves. Others will paddle with people who can coach them or give them tips. The sport is much much easier if you have good technique. Otherwise you are simply spinning the wheels. The newer you are to the sport the more you will benefit from instruction. If you want to keep improving then seek out some professional instruction then work on what they say for an extended time. You don't have to have instruction all the time but take a lesson then work on improving for "X" amount of time. Then maybe another lesson. At some point you will understand more about technique and muscle memory then you can teach yourself. Instruction will go a long ways. Oh yeah, make sure you are taking a lesson from somebody who knows what they are doing. Otherwise you are taught bad habits and putting those into your muscle memory. Kayaking is all about muscle memory and to become a great paddler one must understand the progression to developing correct technique through muscle memory. You'll find there is lots you don't know and didn't even know it.
Hope this helps. If you can't afford a class, there are lots of books and internet sights, etc that work well too. Two dvds that come to mind are, "The River Runner's Edge, and The Kayaker's Toolbox." There are other good videos out there too. E.J. has a couple of decent videos and books for sale. In conclusion I'll say if you want to improve then be a student of the game. Study technique and practice the fundamentals. Good Luck.
Cheers,
Jason |
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Yes! You can always benefit through instruction New 
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