PADDLER 46
Words and illustration concepts : Michael Howard Illustrations : Dave Howard
PADDLER 46
CONTEMPLATIVE
Paddling In conversation with our canoe
Words and illustration concepts : Michael Howard Illustrations : Dave Howard
“ Every paddling experience is an ongoing conversation between you and your canoe .” Bruce Kemp , Why Freestyle ?, Crosspost , 2016
In the first article to be posted on Crosspost in 2016 , Bruce Kemp elaborates on the conversational dynamic of paddling , “ That Joy is only increased as you learn more about how you can facilitate , enhance , and make use of that movement : in learning how to speak to the boat with your blade , your weight shifts , your heeling ; but also , in learning how to listen when the canoe speaks to you .”
Bruce concludes with the view , “ FreeStyle paddling may be thought of and described in many ways , and this is only one of those ways – FreeStyle instruction is all about learning how to be an effective and efficient communicator with your boat certainly , but also a good listener as well . It ’ s about learning how to hold up your end of that ongoing conversation .”
I read this article only recently , but it affirms what I experienced from my first encounter with FreeStyle canoeing . While the need to become an effective communicator with our canoe is clear , it makes sense that the surest way of becoming a good communicator is to become a good listener to the conversation between our paddle and canoe .