Beginner KAYAK LESSONS

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Most popular comments
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Wilddog Miner - 6 years ago

Quico taught me how to whitewater with this very vid a few years back and i,ve never looked back , hes a gentlemen and an excellent father , negative comments here are not needed or wanted

Steve Clodfelter - 6 years ago

Great video. John Sanchez. If you don't like something, don't watch it and keep your comments to yourself like most real adults do.

phdfxwg Fischercat - 6 years ago

my brother has the first part of the eskimo role perfected ! its the second half that has him screwed !!!!

Janey x - 6 years ago

Fantastic. The smile on that child’s face once things started to fall into place. Great teaching!

Randell Schimdt - 8 years ago

Drop, brace, the kid nails it, if you want a good laugh watch me ferry

Vinnie Smith - 8 years ago

I just got into a lake and paddled that seemed to work

Quico Reed - 8 years ago

Awesome buddy, keep working at it. Don't get down if you're scared for a while. It's just not natural to strap oneself into a boat that feels like a coffin floating in moving water! You'll get more comfortable over time.

sansalka - 8 years ago

Thanks! Your vidio inspire me lots.....Gracias!!

Quico Reed - 8 years ago

Great, thanks. Go boating!

Brian Shepa - 8 years ago

J Sanchez...you are a D and a troll! Every beginner is frightened no matter what you learn. Dude did an amazing job teaching the lad how to build his confidence. His last go was perfect and exemplifies how well he is being taught. Go troll somewhere else!

suchasreallife - 8 years ago

wouldn't it be better to start a nervous student off with out the skirt in case they roll ?

Quico Reed - 8 years ago

we already did that in the pool. We spent a number of days in a pool practicing wet exits. He was ready for moving water. They have to get over the fear at some point, this is the safest place in moving water to do so. The only way to get over your fear is to face it. Thanks for the comment.

10. comment for Beginner KAYAK LESSONS

trays awesome gaming awesome 100 - 9 years ago

I'm not scared to kayak

Michael James Stone - 9 years ago

I have to say Thank you Quico. As a Novice I will likely use much more of this on a Green River Run I am trying in a inflatable kayak. No, I am not skilled for it but will learn and adapt more from the practical reality you presented than Mr Sanchez critique. Your comments presented well said accuracy and the video gave me more that I need as a novice than the Beginner Video's I watched looking around. THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED, though it is too late for me to "practice" as I found this late and am committed. Gear and all the goal is 45 days and about 770 river miles. If I make it I wanted to thank you for some powerful helpful lessons. If I don't (grin) it had nothing to do with this video but me. I am sure along my journey others will help me on the river with their experience as you have with your family's and not be a hindrance as no offence to Mr Sanchez, but he should take your advice in your comments and refrain from criticism UNTIL he has the skill level. If I make it I'll try to drop a line and thank you again..... should be about last week Sept 2015. If I don't (grin) make a video on the pool practice first......(joke). Thank you again.

Quico Reed - 8 years ago

How did your green river run turn out? I don't mind other folks' comments. They just don't know what they don't know.

John Sanchez - 9 years ago

This is not a beginner lesson video to instruct anyone, this is a video of this guy showing off that he gives begginer lessons. You can tell by the fact that this guy really explains nothing to someone who lacks the understanding of basic paddling or kayaking terminology. There is almost no positive examples of what to do right, just someone commenting on what is being done wrong. All instruction comes from editing using font that isnt always as clear as it could be. Where is the narration? How many time did these kids have learning this craft before we stepped into the middle of this lesson. Do not think there is anything to learn really learn here.

Quico Reed - 6 years ago

thanks for doing that for him.

RooFx - 7 years ago

perhaps something like this is more to your liking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2RzTXvyccs

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

One last thing. You asked how much instruction they had had previously. I'll explain exactly what I had done up to this point.1) both children had been taught to swim and were even on community swim teams. They felt very comfortable in the water.2) both had been introduced to moving water via inner tubes on a creek, WITH life jackets and helmets on. This gave them an understanding of how powerful moving water is, and how to safely swim to shore, keep their feet up in a swim, etc. And to trust their life jackets.3) They had received instruction in a POOL in the Kayak, and were taught the names of boat parts, the paddle, how to hold the paddle. Paddle forward, backward. Positioning paddle for Eddy out, and eddy turn. How to WET EXIT, and were already starting to perform a ROLL.4) the frightened boy, my son, had then gone with me on a very slow and lazy river but had a scare there. Luckily, I had scouted ahead and was able to give a heads up when we found a tree had fallen across the river and created a potentially deadly strainer. He tried to eddy out but missed the eddy. He flipped, swam, rescued himself and his gear but was scared afterward.5) so this was to get him over that fear and work on his eddy turns and eddying out.I think that covers it.

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

+John Sanchez I am not advertising services. I taught my kids to kayak. I shared the video. I explained what was happening.Take it, leave it, whatever.If I created a one size fits all video it would be hours long. And there are already LOTS of instructional videos on Youtube.One last thought; Please do NOT think you can sit down to videos and then safely get on a river. Please Do NOT do that!If you have a buddy give you some very basic instruction, say in a pool, learn the terms, practice some easy moves such as paddling forward, turning, wet exits, etc. Then move to a SLOW moving river or creek. And I mean SLOOOOOWWWW.Have someone video you from the bank. Watch the video. THEN come back to Youtube and look at instruction and compare the two.THEN this video will begin to make more sense to you.So, maybe the title should have been..."Instructing beginners who already have a little flat water pool instruction and are now ready to try moving water for the first time." But that seems long.

John Sanchez - 9 years ago

+Quico Reed I was happy to watch your video. I was happy to be getting beginner lessons into paddling as it is a sport I am interested in learning. I am not a negative guy, though I am not going to try to prove that to you. This is why I am upset at the junk I watched.

The title of the video is "Beginner Kayak Lessons," Yet you say, by yourself, "I think it is more instructive to show a real beginner struggling, and point out what is going wrong, and show the symptoms of the mistakes.Why? Because other beginners will be able to recognize they did it wrong..." So, if I am taking a beginner lesson, how am I going to recognize that I did something wrong if I have no body of work/lesson/understanding to fall back on. Which really doesn't help if your not at least going to provide simple terminology. How am I supposed to "Note the basic paddling skills" if I don't understand what they are. Instead I am left to guess about whats wrong while trying to read the comments. And I don't care if you got a 10 to 1 positive review, hell, every bad singer goes on American Idol gets a 10 to 1 positive review from the judges.
I will say this though, good job getting your kids out of the house and off of the devices. But if you are going to make an instructional video, make an instructional video. If your going to use this to advertise your services, then at least put up contact information. But if you take the time to stop and rewatch this, from the point of view as someone who is trying to learn this stuff, with no formal training...? I don't say what I say out of Malice, although it generally comes out that way. If you read what I said, its nothing more than a general overall disclaimer.

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

+John Sanchez You're a sadly negative fellow, aren't you? If I review the commentaries on my video, I see LOTS of great comments about how good the video is. 10 to 1 positive reviews.I don't pretend to be a professional documentary video production house. I am a father and was teaching my kids to boat. And since I have successfully taught a number of people to boat, I thought maybe it might be interesting to share the class.I didn't think narration was necessary. I have spent a lot of time watching other instruction videos, where experts perform the desired action flawlessly. That is lovely. But I think it is more instructive to show a real beginner struggling, and point out what is going wrong, and show the symptoms of the mistakes.Why? Because other beginners will be able to recognize they did it wrong when they miss the eddy or flat spin as they exit the eddy and will remember what they saw. Then they will remember how it was SUPPOSED to look and try again.If you pay attention, you will see positive examples of how to do it. And you see the student get it right in the end. Or were you too busy being negative to notice?!No, I didn't present a glossary of terms. If you want that, go to the American Canoe Association or other sites to learn those terms.I have been a teacher, coach and instructor of one type or another for over 30 years. I don't try to mimic what others do; I see what they do, see what they don't do, and take my own path.I would suggest to you a little attitude readjustment. You need to go boating. Get your head on straight. Come back when you are happier.

vishalbars132 - 9 years ago

Thanks very nice lesson. I have just started Kayaking, very good lesson for beginners.

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Carlotv - 9 years ago

Where is this river?

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

Clear Creek in Golden Colorado.

John Meaclem - 9 years ago

Awsome vid am learning to padle myself. afew excellent pointers thanks

Evelyn Saphier - 9 years ago

Thanks! I am bringing home my first kayak this Friday! Your son worked hard and learned the lessons. Great instruction!

JShirey - 9 years ago

Do you happen to know that model/brand kids helmet (with cage)? I'm looking to get my young daughter on moving water and that helmet seems perfect. Thanks!!

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

+khaymen1 it would be much cheaper to do what I did. The kid's mask is about $50 and the facemask was like $30. A hockey mask with a cage is much more expensive

khaymen1 - 9 years ago

+huntingdon84 You could always buy a childs hockey helmet. They have cages on the front to protect the face.

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

I bought a faceless helmet and bought the cage separately and attached it.

Jay Wuud - 10 years ago

what river is this?

Quico Reed - 9 years ago

Clear Creek, Golden CO.

20. comment for Beginner KAYAK LESSONS

Robert Millen - 10 years ago

Good Job!

Guitar Zeroes Covers - 10 years ago

Good Job! Instructor.

Suresh Datar - 10 years ago

go kids go! :)

jamie cottam-howarth - 10 years ago

best video I have ever seen

Wilddog Miner - 10 years ago

this is the most informative instructinal video i have ever had the pleasure to watch , waiting patiently for you to put on more and more to take it as far as your skills can go , i,m learning this from your video and others and i,m totally addicted at 50 hopin i can acheive good class 2 runs in the next few years

Quico Reed - 10 years ago

+Stephen Mallett
Yes indeed, I understand all too well. I learned in the surf in Florida, and a tight tuck was not quite as important. First time I got onto a river within 5 minutes I had flipped and smashed my face on a rock. Boy did I TUCK like crazy after that. I had two black eyes and a broken nose and looked like a raccoon. I boated anyway though. No sense quitting just because of spilt blood! LOL

Wilddog Miner - 10 years ago

Victoria , at the moment all my practice is confined to the surf , i learnt a few hard lessons that way i have to say , i learned quickly exiting the boat is always the very last option , but when you do i found to try and stay with it even try to use it as a surfboard is the very safest option , i wet exited straight into the rip at rye back beach without a lifejacket and abandoned the boat immediately ,BIG MISTAKE ON ALL COUNTS ,closest i ever came to dying the waves spat me back out only luck saved me ......my training is all safety safety safety now , braces , rolls , balance and paddle control , i hope to hit my first whitewater very soon i,ll start fairly shallow the bunyip river and tyers but i hope to do the thomson river above he reservoirs this year , i,m totally addicted and pend all my free time in the water , i have all my safety gear now but i,m not geared for the cold yet....if you live in victoria and give lessons would love to go for a paddle with you.....i,m not really having too much trouble with things given i,m learning it myself from you and others on here , my rolls don,t work every time but i get it goin most times when i,m relaxed and warned up and the fear goes ,i won,t bullshit the accident in the surf really shocked me but i take it all deadly serious now while i still have massive fun , i,m lookin forward to my first boof .....i,m mostly working on my braces so i don,t go over in the first place but rolls i practice every time anyway

Quico Reed - 10 years ago

So Stephen, where do you boat (what part of the country)?

Quico Reed - 10 years ago

Thanks for sharing. As soon as I can I'll work on another one. Is there a skill you find particularly difficult? I'd be happy to break it down for you.

coastsidejoan - 11 years ago

Thanks! I'm doing this for the first time this week just before I enter my 6th decade on this earth. I'm so excited!!!

DelmarBD - 11 years ago

Excellent and excellent mentor!

ForeverIloveyou2013 - 11 years ago

Thank you again, this video helped so much, wish me good luck :).

ForeverIloveyou2013 - 11 years ago

Thank you for the instructions :), I had very bad aquagobia for years and years, but after I started somw swimming classes I started to feel better about being in water, not 100% though... I used to go to the beach and watch kayakers and loved and thought it would be even more challenging to my fear fight :), I have a friend who is a good kayaker she will coach me, we're starting next weel caz I need to buy the equipement and vest all that stuff :), am little nervous though! I'll be okay :). Thx

Quico Reed - 11 years ago

I think you should definitely give it a try. Start out in flat and still water...a pond or pool or lake. It's a bit harder than it looks. Try to have someone with you that can give you some basic instruction. Learn how to "wet exit", get out of the boat upside down. Then move to slow moving flat-water with someone who can help you with some basic techniques like turns, ferries, stopping, etc. Once you have the basics, then try to move to something moving a little faster. Take your time.

30. comment for Beginner KAYAK LESSONS

Chris Gillenwater - 11 years ago

that smile says it all

r - 11 years ago

That's awesome! My wife and I have started paddling and I'm definitely the more nervous of us (go figure). Something abiut watching kids really puts somenof those nerves into perspective! We plan on starting our kids this summer. Great video!

bestbuyfromme - 12 years ago

What a great thorough vid. Thanks

Quico Reed - 12 years ago

That's GREAT, that is exactly what I hoped for. I will provide more videos. If there is any skill you find you struggle with, let me know and I will prepare a video to explain the concept.

psychicphantom - 12 years ago

Thanks for sharing as im just starting out kayaking i found this very helpfull and informative with great easy to understand information and demo's of what not to do and how to do it right, cheers hope you post some more lessons soon keep up the great work