[Paddlewise] Rolls (was ACA meetings: Greenland)

Mattson, Timothy G wrote:
> 
> Clearly, only very serious sea kayakers learn to roll -- and these people
> tend to become (or already are) advanced paddlers.  This makes sea kayak
> rolling by construction an advanced technique.  But it doesn't have to be
> that way -- which is the point of the Nigel Foster quote.  Its not an
> advanced technique in white water paddling.  

Only very serious sea kayakers _who intend to put themselves in bumpy
water_ (open ocean, surf, tidal rips) learn to roll, and not all of
them. This represents a minority of sea kayakers, many of whom don't
want to see any more than a 2" riffle.

_All_ ww kayakers intend to put themselves in bumpy water; that's the
point of the sport, so a roll is basic to ww. Also, a swim in a river
rapid exposes you to hazards (rocks, undercuts, strainers, keeper holes)
that a swim in the ocean generally doesn't.

> Given that rolling a sea kayak
> is no harder than rolling a white water boat (except when the  sea kayak
> fits too loosely in which case they can be a bit harder to roll), there is
> no reason rolling can't be a basic skill in sea kayaking as well.
> 

None, except that most sea kayakers don't feel they need to roll, and
they're probably right, considering the conditions the intend to paddle
in. BTW, I know a number of WW kayakers with decent Class III combat
rolls who were not able to roll even a well-fitting sea kayak at first,
including me. I would disagree that a sea kayak is as easy to roll as a
ww boat.

Steve
-- 
Test Scoring & Reporting Services       Sometimes, you never can
University of Georgia                     always tell what you
Athens, GA 30602-5593                       least expect the most.
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