"Michael Daly" wrote in message
...

On 11-Oct-2005, "Roger Houston" wrote:

Would you expose a "raw" kayaking beginner to whitewater?

You have to get into the whitewater at some point to not be a beginner.
You start with class 1 and work your way up. Instructors will start
with fla****er and teach wet exits and basic rescue, but rolling is
not taught up front. One very well respected kayak school teaches
rolling on day three of a week-long course - and then only an
introduction. It will take the student a lot longer to develop a roll
that will be useful in WW. But that same student will be introduced
to class 3 by the end of that same week.

Students are not on their own (unless they learn KMAN's way), so they
are not at exceptional risk. They also learn very quickly to appreciate
the handling characteristics of a kayak like the Animas. Learning to
keep it going in a straight line is also learned quickly enough.

Mike

Do you have any evidence to suggest that the rate of injury of self-taught
kayakers exceeds that of those who receive "professional instruction?" If
so, I'd like to see it. Thanks.