Re: [Paddlewise] Skills: bracing, rolling.

Hi Geo.
Your post brings up some very good questions that I would like to comment
on. These are really just my opinions, although I cannot help myself in
writing as if my opinions were gospel. It's a bad habit I picked up as a
TA.

 On Sat, 16 May 1998, Geo. Bergeron wrote:
>         An ACA Instructor is trying to convince me that I need bracing and
> rolling classes. I have huge problems with spending money on stuff I can't
> hold in my hand. (Hey! The govt. paid for my degrees!) 

I pretty much taught myself how to paddle, from reading books, and from
watching and copying others. I think I have the critical mindset to
effectively evaluate my skills compared to a mental image gained from a
book. It also really helps to have friends who have more skill or
knowledge than yourself (for me, one friend has been George Gronseth). It
also really helps to paddle in an environment where skill is a necessity,
without which you will get into trouble. For me, this was the whitewater
environment, which provides constant feedback on bracing and rolling in a
safe setting. Unfortunately, I think the sea does not provide this kind of
feedback until the conditions are very unsafe.

In short, I think some of the more motivated people can effectively
self-teach themselves to a high degree of competence, but that this is a
rare occurence. (Side note: should we take a poll on how the readers
learned their skills?) However for the majority of folks, lessons from
skilled instructors can save a LOT of time and increase safety
tremendously. The trick is to find an instructor good enough to markedly
improve your skills in the shortest amount of time possible. One person
whom many people say this about is George Gronseth, although I bet there
are plently of other unsung heroes out there.

> 
>    I have a dock on a lake where I can practice without current in fairly
> tepid water. I plan to do some "dockside" work to develop a "bombproof" E.
> Roll. I have a "curriculum" all laid out. . . start with holding the edge of
> the dock and get a feel for the roll of my boat, work on a "snap" with my
> hand on the dock. Next, work on a roll with a paddle float attached to the
> blade. Move on to the roll with a paddle. . . I've been told that extending
> the paddle and holding the blade in the "weak" hand is a good method
> initially. I've read several works on the E. Roll, including Hutchinson's
> out of print book on rolling. I'm a skilled reader (M.A. Lit) and my
> learning style is to get several books and bone up (OK, teaching
> certificates and classroom experience too. . .)  

What you describe is not a "bombproof" roll. Bombproof is a much a state
of mind as well as a physical skill. Bombproof means "I am not coming out
of my boat except as an absolute last resort, because swimming is a much
worse option than trying one more roll." To be bombproof, you will need an
offside roll at the minimum, and 40 different ways to roll as a maximum
(e.g. john heath's video of Jon Peterson exhibiting Greenland rolling).
And you will need to test your roll in tough conditions such as whitewater
or big ocean surf. One really good book on rolling is "The Bombproof Roll
and Beyond", I forget the author, though I could look it up at home.

> 
>         Ultimately I'd like to be able to roll without a paddle. I'm a very
> strong swimmer and have a powerful stroke. I'm also very comfortable with
> being upside-down underwater. I know that the Aleuts can roll with a rock in
> their hand, and I've seen white-water dudes roll with a beer in the hand. .
> . I know that this is possible. 

These are good tricks, and require very positive outfitting of the boat to
not waste any hipsnap energy. Good outfitting is so critical to good
paddling, but it so often overlooked.

> 
>         Now. . . my real question. I can get back in the boat, and have a
> wet-suit/dry-top combo that will save my butt et al from the hypothermia. .
> . I'm really comfortable solo in my boat in stormy seas on the order of 3
> foot plus. . . I've never come close to capsizing even in some good storms
> and heavy seas. So just how skilled should I be when paddling way off shore
> on the Columbia? 
> 

You should have a proven bombproof roll as I tried to describe above, as a
minimum, and also a lot of caution. Good luck developing your roll!

Kevin whilden

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************