April 1, 2000

Skills improvement

April Fool's Day, 2000

I've been thinking of this for a long time. I'm not sure I've captured this in my trip reports, so I think it needs a standalone entry in my journal. Lately I've been playing several roles in regards to kayaking:

Paddling partner, teacher, trip leader, and student. It's difficult at times to tell when one role stops and another begins.

But over the last year or so I've found, at least for me, it is dedicated practice that has improved my confidence and skills. Either with someone else or alone, my skills will improve more over a two-hour practice session than over two months of weekend paddling. There just isn't any comparison.

As the water warms and I don't mind hanging upside down in my kayak as much, I think I will spend as much time as I can in these mini skills workshops. My off side roll, brace, and turns will improve. At some point this season I would like to certify myself as an intermediate paddler. A lofty goal with just over a year's worth of experience, but one in which I will try.

It is a long road between here and there. But I can 'feel' the skills starting to gel with these weekend sessions. It is a touch of confidence I haven't had before. Moreover, I think I will be able to sense when I'm ready for that intermediate step. I know now what it will feel like when I get there. I can taste it.

This comes at a time where in my professional life I'm taking on the biggest project of my 18-year career. It will probably rob me of much needed practice time. But it is most likely my last major project in my military profession, so it is important to me. It also worries me as I'm tasked to do in 3 months what others have failed to do in 4 years, and accomplish in 6 months what has never been done before.

It will be an interesting summer...