PREP For Success

These elements provide a strong foundation for successful canoe or kayak paddling and programs.

Posture
Rotation
Eyesight
Positive Attitude

• Using the PREP for Success model of paddling instruction will enable you to teach others how to build a strong foundation in paddlesports while providing transformational character building.

• To help understand the concept of PREP a short video has been included. This video covers all of the aspects of the PREP concept so you will probably want to watch the whole video before reading on. This document links to an online YouTube video so you will need to be connected to the internet to view it.

• Although the video shows the PREP concept for kayaks, the same fundamentals hold true for canoes as well.

• After watching the video, review the step-by-step concepts that will give you the best chance for success in a kayak or canoe.

• These parts may be broken down during your teaching sessions but I tend to blend them together as seen on the video.

• Each paddling concept has been undergirded with a “life application” concept to help us continue to grow and stay strong in our Christian lives.

• Although each program is different and has its own methods for teaching and incorporating Christian life applications into the various activities. I would recommend that you pick and choose a few of the life applications that best fit your needs.

The following seven minute video clip provides the visual concept behind the PREP concept for paddling.

 

Click the photo to watch the PREP video

Keep going to explore Posture-Rotation-Eyesight-Positive Attitude separately.
The individual photos are not linked to videos. Please refer to the PREP video above for each section.

Posture - is the best place to start and ties in the rest of the fundamentals.
Rotation
Eyesight
Positive Attitude

The Technique
When you sit upright in your boat these things happen: Stability, which is important in keeping the boat upright whether on calm or turbulent water. Flexibility is key be able to react well in each specific situation and obstacle faced. Control in the boat comes from developing a solid foundation of skills which leads to confidence. We are less likely to flip over. This doesn’t mean that when faced with turbulent wasters that an upright paddler won’t flip over; however, there is much less likelihood of overturning the boat if the paddler is maintaining a balanced posture. When we do flip over, it is much easier to return to the upright position.

Bible References
God is Upright: Dt 32:4; Ps 25:8, 33:4, 92:15
Upright People: Gn 6:9; Job 1:1, Ps 7:10
Challenge to Be Upright: 1Th 2:10; Tit 1:8, 2:12
The Upright Celebrate: Ps 32:11, 33:1, 64:10, 107:42

Life Applications: When we lead upright lives we are less likely to have problems when faced with troubled waters of daily life. But when our lives are upset by trouble, it is much easier to return to living right if we started out that way.

Fun Facts: The root meaning of both the Hebrew and Greek words for upright also mean righteous or right, essentially an upright person does the right thing in times of trouble. Just and fair to others in the group and also outside the group.

Posture
Rotation - gives you power, efficiency and protection.
Eyesight
Positive Attitude

The Technique
Good rotation is important because: You get more strength and power by “winding up” the torso before a stroke provides much more power in each stroke and helps transfer the power into moving the boat efficiently. You are able to lead the turn by turning your chest in the direction that you want the boat to go, the boat follows in the direction of our rotation. This technique works well in other sports as well. It engages the “auto-edging” feature of the boat. As you fully rotate to one side, the boat will naturally “tilt” in that direction. This action allows the boat not only to carve turns to maintain good speed in the boat but keeps the “outside edge” of the boat lifted during turning maneuvers reducing the possibility of flipping. You will also enjoy better shoulder safety by rotating the torso with the strokes, which allows you to keep your hands in front of the body and reduce shoulder stresses and injuries.

Bible References
Encouragement to Turn: 1Pe 3:11
Turn in Repentance: Mt 3:2; Ac 3:19, 26:18, 20; 2Ti 2:19
Turn for Healing: Mt 13:15; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:27
Warning! Don’t Turn Toward the Bad: 2Ti 4:4; 2Pe 2:21

Life Applications: When you need to change paths you must completely turn away from the bad things in your life and turn completely towards what is good. When you do this, God’s power is on your side. When you fully turn, some things automatically happen in your life. Without being fully committed, change usually doesn’t happen quickly or fully.

Fun Facts: To repent means to “change one’s mind” and calls for a change in a person’s attitude toward God in a way that will impact one’s actions and life choices. It is moving from one way of thinking and living to a different way. Signs of repentance (turning from the bad) are prayer, confession and committing to not do it again.

Posture
Rotation
Eyesight - leads the way to successfully reaching your destination.
Positive Attitude

The Technique
Proper vision and eyesight are important because: first, you will know where you are going. You can not arrive at our destination unless you know where you are going. The key is to pick a point that you can focus on while traveling the water path to your destination. The boat goes where you look. It is critical to look at a point, or destination, before starting off on the path. If you are looking at the clear path as you travel, that is most likely where you will go. It is important that you look beyond the front of your boat to take in the scenery while being aware of the challenges in getting to your destination. Your boat goes where you are looking. If you get distracted and forget to look where you are going, you will not be able to make the corrections needed to keep you on track. Don’t focus on the obstacles and other bad things that you may encounter on the water. If you focus on the bad things such as a strainer in the water or other scary thing you will be drawn to them and the trouble that they bring. Instead, focus on the clear path that leads to your final goal.

Bible References
Look and Go: Ep 5:15
Seek: Dt 4:29; Ps 27:8; Mt 6:33, 7:7; Lk 11:9; Jn 5:44; Ro 2:7; Col 3:1
God’s Vision: 1Sa 16:7
Look and Turn: Ps 119:37; Mt 13:15; 1Pe 3:11

Life Applications: It is important to look at (focus on) the good in life. We need to be aware of the bad things around us without focusing on them. Because if we focus on the bad things in life, even though we know they are bad, we will be continually drawn to them. In the same manner that your boat goes where you are looking on the river; your life goes where you look in the “real world.” The internet and magazines are a great examples of things that have both an overwhelming amount of good and bad. Be careful little eyes what you see. Once you have seen something, you cannot “un-see” it. A word of caution: If you are not aware of the “bad things” you will not be able to avoid them but the trick is to be aware of them without focusing on them.

Fun Facts: Seek means to look with enthusiasm and persistence; a good approach for both boating and life.

Posture
Rotation
Eyesight
Positive Attitude - translates trust into success and circles back around to proper posture.

The Technique

Having a positive attitude is important because: You are more likely to be successful if you think you are going to be successful. Being anxious and hesitant can cause mental and physical problems on the water. You must be decisive about your next move and then go for it! There are times when it is important to slow down and plan the next move but that is being decisive rather than being tentative. Trusting in your preparation to be successful plays well into having a positive attitude and being decisive. If you do not have a positive attitude the other aspects of PREP are affected as well. You aren’t likely to sit upright, you will avoid fully turning where you want your boat to go and you’ll find your eyes are focused on all of the obstacles and negative things on or near your path.

Life Applications: You can have a positive in life if you trust God. Start by forming your basic foundation of decision making through faithfully waiting and listening to God. As a Christian, you can act decisively because you know that God will be successful and fulfills promises. God has plans to give you a future filled with hope. Trusting God is critical to living as a Christian. It is not always easy but it keeps you upright, with your body and soul turned toward God, which keeps on the right path in life.

Bible References
Trust in God: Ps 27:13-14, 31:14, 52:8; Is 12:2, 26:4; Jer 29:11; 1Pe 1:21
Don’t Be Anxious: Mt 6:25-34; Lk 12:22-32; Php 4:6
Not Overwhelmed: Is 43:2

Fun Facts: Trust and confidence share the same root that is very strong in the Old Testament and continues through the New Testament. By trusting God, you can live with the confidence that God will take care of your needs and you will not need to worry.