Loving the outdoors:
Kayaking Instructor
Mike Hanselman
Mike and his dog, Daisy, a seasoned kayaker, take a break on the Rio Grande at the Taos River Gorge.
Mike teaches a four-day intensive beginning kayaking course that gets students well on the way to being skilled paddlers and able to take rapids on their own.Mike Hanselman started kayaking when he was 13 — that’s 24 years of kayaking so far! A love for the outdoor life runs in his family, and he took to it from early on. When he was about 15, his dad asked a friend, Jack O’Neill, to let young Mike help with his kayaking and rafting business, Wolf Whitewater. Mike loved it, worked his way up to become the main instructor and guide, and eventually bought the business. He’s been leading kayak rafting and canoeing trips for nine seasons now.
Mike’s kayaking class for Continuing Education starts off in the pool so the students can practice with the kayaks in a safe setting. Before they take it to the water, even before they’re in the pool, Mike is serious about safety. This class goes way beyond hands-on; it’s full-body participation, as students practice the basics of maneuvering their kayaks in the water. Mike shares his own comfort zone with the physicality of kayaking to fully engage the students in learning the techniques. Part of the drill is teaching students to extricate themselves from various situations on a kayak, by knowing how to use their own bodies as leverage.
“For lots of people, it’s impulsive. They are just flipping through the catalog and suddenly they notice they can
take kayaking at Continuing Ed, and they go for it. Other people do it
just to scratch it off their list of things to accomplish
in their lifetime, and once they cross that off, they’re done. No matter what makes people try it, almost anyone can get hooked on it and take up kayaking for life.”
Mike’s Beginning River Kayaking course is an intensive, taking place over 4 days from a Thursday to a Sunday, designed to get anyone well on their way to becoming a skilled whitewater paddler. The class starts with an evening of instruction and practice in the comfort of a heated indoor pool, followed by a day of practicing paddling techniques on a small lake. Then it’s on to the Rio Grande near Taos for two full days in rapids that are perfect for learning. In the Taos River Gorge above, Mike’s dog Daisy makes sure the students are rounded up, geared up, and ready for the adventure about to begin.
To the right, Mike is in the water helping the student in the kayak to the rear. When they are on the river, Mike is constantly on hand, watching over his students in the water. He’ll lend a hand, flip a student over who is having trouble, or give a helping push to correct a student’s direction through the rapids. However, he steps in only when necessary. He’ll keep an eye on a student and yell out a few instructions and encourage the student to use what they’ve learned. Mike tries to get people to find the answers inside themselves while they are being challenged out on the water. If they figure out what to do on their own, they’ll gain a sense of independence and confidence, and be able to find their own solutions in the future. The students know he’s right there to help as they venture out, and his prowess in the water and calm presence inspires their efforts. They dare to be adventurous and try greater things on their own.
To the left, a Continuing Education student enjoys his very first time on the rapids (and he’s doing great !) Instructor Mike Hanselman says it’s a great pleasure to share his love of the outdoor life with his students. Mike loves to expose more and more people to the sport of kayaking. “It’s amazing to watch people learn something new and to become more confident in the water. Occasionally, the class will get someone really hooked, and I’ll see them year after year on the river. That’s such a great feeling.”
Teach a class with us
Have you spent a lifetime of learning on a favorite subject? Is there something you can do that nobody else can do? You can teach a class with UNM Continuing Education!
Turn in a course proposal. (PDF file to download, instructions on the file.)
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Contact
For information call 277-6320 or email ddel@unm.edu
