>> I'd be interested in the experience of other ocean and lake paddlers: How many rolls do you do in a season? More pertinent, on how many days in the season do you roll? >> My wife found that two things made learning to roll easier for her: a face mask, which she finds more comfortable than nose clips, and a spotter (me) to give her an Eskimo rescue when needed. With me standing by, though she missed many rolls in her first month, she never once had to wet-exit. This served both to conserve her energy and to allow her more attempts per session. I recommend both a mask and a spotter to anyone learning to roll. Rolling our sea kayaks is recreation, not work, for us, and we practice frequently. During the summer we practice once a week on a city lake, and during the winter we usually practice twice a month in a neighborhood pool. We also practice occasionally with fully loaded boats during trips on Lake Superior, to get used to rolling both in cold water and in waves. (We find our Romanys no harder to roll fully loaded than empty.) In warm water, it is not unusual for us to roll 20 to 30 times per session. So we practice maybe 24 days a year, not counting trips, and probably do over 500 rolls a year. One thing I have noticed is that constant practice pays off more than one might think. I thought I was pretty good at the end of my first year of rolling because I hardly ever missed. By the end of my second year I thought I was about as good as I could get, because I never missed. But by the end of my third year, I was even better, because my roll was more fluid and effortless than ever before. So just because you succeeded a few times in class, don't think you know how to roll. Get out there and practice. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Just as a learn to roll idea, or for extreme whitewater, take a 20 cu, ft pony bottle and regulator with a long hose. There is a harness you can get to strap it to your waiste/lap. You route the hose up along your side to your neck. The second stage regulator ( it contains the mouthpiece ) has a length of surgical tubing attached to both sides of the mouthpiece, and the tubing runs around the back of your neck. When not in use, the 2nd stage hangs comfortably right under your chin. If you tip, and don't roll as desired instantly, you can actually just tilt your chin down sharply and grab the reg with your mouth, no hands needed. You can use your hand if you like :-) This is the method of riging the backup regulator for Doing it Right style diving, but would seem to be a good application for extended rolling practice if you have no spotter, or if you are venturing into very rough water. Regards, Dan Volker -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Chuck Holst Sent: Friday, December 18, 1998 10:39 AM To: 'Paddlewise' Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Rolling Your Sea Kayak >> I'd be interested in the experience of other ocean and lake paddlers: How many rolls do you do in a season? More pertinent, on how many days in the season do you roll? >> My wife found that two things made learning to roll easier for her: a face mask, which she finds more comfortable than nose clips, and a spotter (me) to give her an Eskimo rescue when needed. With me standing by, though she missed many rolls in her first month, she never once had to wet-exit. This served both to conserve her energy and to allow her more attempts per session. I recommend both a mask and a spotter to anyone learning to roll. Rolling our sea kayaks is recreation, not work, for us, and we practice frequently. During the summer we practice once a week on a city lake, and during the winter we usually practice twice a month in a neighborhood pool. We also practice occasionally with fully loaded boats during trips on Lake Superior, to get used to rolling both in cold water and in waves. (We find our Romanys no harder to roll fully loaded than empty.) In warm water, it is not unusual for us to roll 20 to 30 times per session. So we practice maybe 24 days a year, not counting trips, and probably do over 500 rolls a year. One thing I have noticed is that constant practice pays off more than one might think. I thought I was pretty good at the end of my first year of rolling because I hardly ever missed. By the end of my second year I thought I was about as good as I could get, because I never missed. But by the end of my third year, I was even better, because my roll was more fluid and effortless than ever before. So just because you succeeded a few times in class, don't think you know how to roll. Get out there and practice. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I'm one of these strange people who enjoy rolling. I practice almost every wednesday night in a pool using my white water boat. I also practice in my sea kayak when I go on my longer recreational paddles -- say once every couple weeks. In fact, the only times I don't roll when I paddle is on my several times per week work-out paddles (where I dress lightly to disapate sweat). This means I roll many hundreds of times per season. However, a more interesting question -- and the question I suspect you meant to ask -- is how many times per season I roll due to an unintentional capsize. Not counting surfing and white water, I seem to flip accidentally in my sea kayak a couple times per year. The most common cause of my flips is hitting a submerged log when paddling at night (something I do a lot). --Tim *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
We had a discussion about the use of a pony or spare air for rolling and I believe someone (could have been me) suggested that one could embolize if a full lung of compressed air was taken while upside down. I don't think the risk is worth it, as a snorkel type device would be much safer. cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
If one of you guys are over 8 feet tall, perhaps this would be an issue---for most people 6 feet tall and less, the pressure difference of less than one foot to your diaphram, would be too small to be an issue---over expansion injuries could occur if you took a full breath 5 feet down ( I mean your chest is five feet down ) and then held it to the surface. But this is a much different scenario. I don't see how a snorkel could come close to providing equivalent emergency air, particularly in rough water. And remember, I freedive, which means I like snorkels :-) Regards, Dan -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Bob Denton Sent: Friday, December 18, 1998 1:19 PM To: 'Paddlewise' Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Rolling Your Sea Kayak We had a discussion about the use of a pony or spare air for rolling and I believe someone (could have been me) suggested that one could embolize if a full lung of compressed air was taken while upside down. I don't think the risk is worth it, as a snorkel type device would be much safer. cya *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The snorkel referred to is a breathing tube that takes air from the hull. cya *************************************************************************** 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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