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Teaching: “I want them to be scared”
“After 35 years of teaching kayaking I have had a lot of success,” Brian said. “Not high-end paddlers but people who had problems learning— that was my specialty.” Brian Creer’s teaching style stresses safety and preparedness, even if he risks scaring the crap out of his students. In beginner classes he shows a video of somebody dying from standing up in water that’s above their knees. He hammers home the importance of giving up trying to roll before you run out of air—if you blow a couple of rolls or are caught in a recirc, swim while you still can. He’s had former students call him out of the blue with stories of how his advice has just saved their lives.
“I’m not afraid of scaring my beginners,” he says. “I want them to be scared. People who aren’t scared, they don’t last.”
19 Boats and Counting This year, a new steep creek boat joined the
20-year-old Perception Dancers and Blazers in Brian’s personal fleet of 19 boats that he rents out at pool sessions for a couple bucks a pop. “It’s one of these short stubby things,” he explained. “I just bought it so I would have one up-to-date boat. I can’t even get into it. My legs don’t bend now the way they used to. I only have one boat that I can get into and it’s a Perception Corsica. It’s a big, big, big boat.”
Awards of Merit
The Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association recognized Brian Creer with their Award of Merit this year. He has also been the inspiration for two awards: the Whitewater Kayak Association of B.C.’s Brian Creer Award for junior development; and Whitewater Canada’s Brian Creer Cup which goes to the top province at each year’s national slalom championships. “Nobody else has done more for the sport and devoting his life to the sport than him,” said Mike Michl of Galasport, who sponsored the cup. “Basically he has lived for the river.”
—Tim Shuff 2003 Fall 21
382 King St. N.,Waterloo (519) 886-3121
www.advguide.com agi@advguide.com
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