I'm having fun planning some informal teaching sessions for our first pool session this year. My plan is to have three "skill learning stations" that folks can rotate through, if they want, to gain some introductory rolling and paddling skills. What is rattling around in my mind, all day today, is that these skills, and all whitewater skills for that matter, are not just whitewater skills. They are kayaking skills that are used in coastal areas, lakes, and river settings-- basically everywhere people kayak.
Helmets are also used in surf, rock gardens, and sea cave exploration, in addition to the Klondike rapids.
Spray Skirts are essential in chop, surf, wind, and cold conditions, at a coast, lake or river. They also help prevent sunburned legs!
WW strokes and maneuvers: Power forward stroke, reverse strokes, rudders, draws, sweeps, etc are all useful strokes when launching, landing, dealing with boat wakes, waves, turning around, looking backwards, maneuvering to another boat, and when dealing with intersecting currents at wing dikes or river mouths.
Boat balance & edging skills are essential in rapids, but also come in extremely handy when skirting around obstructions like wing dikes and river snags, and when dealing with wind and waves.
Rolling and bracing- power boat wakes, wind-driven waves, and wing dikes have capsized many touring and racing kayaks. High, low, and sculling braces are essential tools to prevent capsizes and wouldn't it be nice to roll back up if you do capsize, so you don't have to swim your boat to shore &/or struggle to clamber back in, soaking wet, and pump it out after a flip, especially in cold water?
What I'm trying to say, is that even though our pool & training sessions utilize whitewater boats, they will offer you the opportunity to become a better paddler by gaining skills that may be useful in all your kayaking adventures.
And they're fun. I love pool sessions! Can't wait!
