If you really want to know how good/consistent your roll is in "heavy chop or in the reaction waves thrown up by heavy wakes on a narrow, winding river", try some moderate river paddling. I can't fully emphisize the cross-over benifits of whitewater paddling to ocean paddling. You will learn good boat control via boat lean & paddle technique. You will learn the value of staying "in" your boat. If you do swim, you'll learn to hold on to your boat & paddle. You will learn to read water. I wouldn't be so bold as to say that rolling is neccesary to safely enjoy kayaking. Many paddlers can't roll. Paying attention, paddling in a group, paddling in safe enviroments and other rescue techniques can serve you quite well. Many of these paddlers are far safer than those that don't grasp the limitations of their skills and equipment. On the other hand, nothing changed kayaking more for me than learning to roll. NOTHING! Go ahead, do that deep brace, carve that gnarly turn, roll over to cool off on a sunny day, catch that wave!!! Rolling will add another color to your paddling palette. A very valuable one! Ken Mannshardt Bay Area Sea Kayakers *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I would second Ken's comments re: whitewater paddling. The skills that I brought from paddling an OC-1 (open canoe, single) in whitewater were (and still are) invaluable when I began paddling a sea kayak. Even a 2 or 3 day introductory whitewater class can expose new skills and perhaps a different way of "viewing" the waters we paddle. Plus it's just plain fun! > -----Original Message----- > From: Kayakn Ken [SMTP:KayaknKen_at_aol.com] > Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 3:14 PM > To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Kayaking Safety > > If you really want to know how good/consistent your roll is in > "heavy chop > or in the reaction waves thrown up by heavy wakes on a narrow, winding > river", > try some moderate river paddling. I can't fully emphisize the > cross-over > benifits of whitewater paddling to ocean paddling. You will learn good > boat > control via boat lean & paddle technique. You will learn the value of > staying > "in" your boat. If you do swim, you'll learn to hold on to your boat & > paddle. > You will learn to read water. > I wouldn't be so bold as to say that rolling is neccesary to safely > enjoy > kayaking. Many paddlers can't roll. Paying attention, paddling in a > group, > paddling in safe enviroments and other rescue techniques can serve you > quite > well. Many of these paddlers are far safer than those that don't grasp > the > limitations of their skills and equipment. > On the other hand, nothing changed kayaking more for me than > learning to > roll. NOTHING! Go ahead, do that deep brace, carve that gnarly turn, > roll > over to cool off on a sunny day, catch that wave!!! > Rolling will add another color to your paddling palette. A very > valuable > one! > > Ken Mannshardt > Bay Area Sea Kayakers > ********************************************************************** > ***** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > ********************************************************************** > ***** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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