[Paddlewise] Learning to roll from a book

Not sure I want to jump into the middle of this debate, but . . .

If anyone wants to try to learn to roll from a book, I recommend 
Seidman's  "The Essential Sea Kayaker" which has an excellent set of 
instructions, exercises, and illustrations.  The book is premised on 
the idea that you are better of with an instructor, but if you can't 
find one, here's how to do it.  The costs less than $10 from Amazon, 
and, yes, you can hold it in your hand.

For the record . . . I relearned to roll basically using Seidman's 
book.  I say re-learned, because 13 years ago I learned to roll a ww 
kayak in a pool one day, then never practiced it again (the fellow 
who was going to lend me his ww kayak decided to lend it to his 
ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend instead).  I also got some tips from my 
spouse who is not a kayaker, but, back in her lifeguarding days, she
watched a whole lot of kayak rolling classes.  I was rolling the 
first day of trying, and rolling consistently in the second session.

Now I can roll my home-built Guillemot Coastal in flat water fairly 
reliably.  I am not foolish enough to think that I can roll reliably 
in rough water, and have been practising other self-rescue methods as 
well.  Seidman's book has an excellent discussion of paddle float 
self rescues and re-enter and roll (with a paddle float) as well.

I am sure that I would benefit from some professional advice, but, 
frankly, its not the money, but the time that keeps me from getting 
it.  In the meantime, I am having great fun and practicing my 
home-built roll whenever I can.
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************