Gordon Brown is one of Scotland’s
premier instructors. He has the highest achievable certification from the
British Canoe Union, and is the only American Canoe Association certified coach
in Scotland. He has also been a guest instructor at the last 2 Golden Gate Sea
Kayak Symposiums (and will be at the next GGSKS next weekend). Gordon owns and operates Skyak Adventures on the Isle of Skye.
Sea Kayaking with Gordon
Brown Volume 3 is the third and last video
in a 3 part series. Sea Kayaking with Gordon Brown Volume 1 video covers
the foundations of sea kayaking – paddling, turning, steering, edging, etc. California
Kayaker reviewed the first video on our blog at
Sea Kayaking with Gordon Brown
Volume 2 moves
to more advanced materials, covering assisted
and self rescues, tows, technical landings and launches, and
anticipating/avoiding troubles. This DVD
was reviewed in the Spring 2012 issue of California Kayaker Magazine, which can
be read online at www.calpaddlermag.com/magazine.html.
Volume 3 continues to move to more advanced content. It has 4 sections:
- Handling Emergency Situations
- Sea Kayak Navigation
- Rolling Clinic
- First Aid Kits
Preview for the Volume 3 video:
Volume 3, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown from Simon Willis on Vimeo.
Here are our thoughts looking at each section:
Handling Emergency
Situations
The video uses a mock rescue to present safety planning, how
to deal with an emergency, and what to expect if rescue services are contacted.
The big picture main points of the segment apply to all paddlers: be prepared
with signaling equipment, training and practice; paddlers should be prepared to
address emergencies themselves until help is available; equipment for
contacting emergency services, what it does, how to use it, and the limitations;
making yourself visible to searchers. The video also discusses complications
such as being unfamiliar with rescue equipment and working with cold hands.
We thought about this hard and feel that the US Coast Guard
rescue procedures are similar to Her Majesty's Coast Guard and the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, but a US paddler might not want to rely too
heavily on some of the details presented just in case there are differences.
Sea Kayak Navigation
This segment is less location-specific than the first, but
does talk about OS Maps, which seem to be the UK equivalent to Topo maps. The
graphics were very helpful in explaining tides and correcting bearing for tide
flow. A bonus is the explanation of why the most extreme tide periods are
called spring tides even though they occur every 14 days. The presenter gives
several rules of thumb to use in predicting tidal action. The night navigation
is worth watching because, as the video points out, paddlers risk finding
themselves paddling at night no matter what their float plan is.
Rolling Clinic
Rolling seems to be one of the most difficult kayak skills
to present on a video, and the video points out that rolling cannot be learned
by watching a video, but has to be learned in a boat. Gordon's video is one of
the best because it is filmed in clear pool water with multiple camera angles (including
what one reviewer called the "crotch view") showing the same move.
There were a couple of methods Gordon used that I would try,
either while practicing my roll or helping someone. The video shows how a coach
can assist the paddler while sitting on the side of the pool. When a paddler
completed his first roll, instead of immediately making another attempt, Gordon
suggested he get out of the boat, sit with his eyes closed, and think about
what was happening during the roll.
I am not so sure video feedback would be as useful, and even
Gordon says it can be difficult to find one correction to concentrate on when
the video may show the paddler making several mistakes.
First Aid Kits
First Aid kits are like tow ropes - everyone should have
one, but if you put 5 kayakers together, you will get 6 opinions on what you
should use. Still, there is useful information in this segment, with the key
points being the importance of training for how to respond to an emergency and
how to use the items in the kit; consider carrying a minimal kit close at hand
and larger kit in a hold; and items to carry in the first aid kits.
You do not need to watch any of the prior volumes to get
benefit from the other volumes.
Who should buy Volume 3?
We thought about this a bit. Volume
1 would be good for any sea kayaker (and even for people who paddle other types
of kayaks). The second gets more
specific for sea kayakers, and in some cases specific for group coastal
paddling, yet still is generally useful.
This video, volume 3, gets very specific to some areas of sea kayaking,
and has a bit more limited market. There
definitely are skills to be gained for anyone paddling a sea kayak, even if paddling on protected
lakes, but the topics covered are best for people who do expeditions, paddle in
areas with currents, and in groups. If you fall into one of these categories,
get it. But if not and you don't have an
extra $30 in your pocket, maybe hold off on this one (or spend it on volume 1
or 2, if you don't have those).
This DVD has 2.5 hours worth of content. It costs $29.95 and is available for purchase
from your local paddlesports shop or online from www.seakayakwithgordonbrown.com.