So I saw (and bought) a used copy of "Canoeing" by Ray Goodwin, who is called the UK's best-known canoe coach (I first heard of Goodwin by seeing him on one of Ray Mears' bushcraft videos).

This was out of curiosity more than anything. It's just FILLED with pictures and descriptions of every stroke known to man, plus techniques for every possible situation involving capsizing, rapids and so forth.

Most of it is way beyond me, but it got me to wondering about training and classes and such. So, again I'm curious:

How did you learn to paddle? Just by osmosis and practice?

Or did you take a class? If so, a basic one or detailed, sophistication instruction? Was it worth it? How long did it last? Where taught? What type of water did you practice on? Details  about the instruction would be interesting to me.

(As for me, I first went to Quetico having been in a canoe probably 2 or 3 times. Learned just by doing it and asking questions. I know probably four or five strokes, and 99 percent of my paddling has been on open water (lakes and big rivers), or small creeks, rather than rapids.)

-- kypaddler