Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle floats

From: AlderCreek <acks_at_teleport.com>
Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 18:55:02 -0700
I gotta agree 100% with Tim on this one.  *Whatever* you think, learning to
deal with the 360 degree circle that is centered on your belly button <or
so> is the essence of boat TILT <and hull control>.  To paddle the boat flat
takes balance and an elementary knowledge of TILT. To edge the boat and turn
<carve> takes a bit more of an  understanding of TILT. To feel comfortable
with passing the PONR <point of no return> and rolling over, then back up
takes a complete understanding. Tim is just saying that any kayaker worth
his salt should have a *bombproof* understanding of this concept.  It's not
just for the 180 degrees above the surface!!  ;^)


Steve Scherrer
Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe
250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr
Portland, Oregon      97217

Phone: 503.285.0464
Fax:      503.285.0106
Web:     http://www.aldercreek.com
Email:   aldercreek_at_aldercreek.com
Email:   acks_at_teleport.com


On  Wed, 12 May 1999 15:06:20 -0700
"Mattson, Timothy G" <timothy.g.mattson_at_intel.com
commented on [Paddlewise] Paddle floats

>>Oh,  this is fun.  I just love our rolling discussions.

John made a comment in his last post I just have to respond to...

    Why do you learn to roll? Because you will be able to get right side up
    after a capsize. Why do you capsize? Because you might get caught in
    conditions you can't handle. Why did you get caught in conditions you
can't
    handle? Duhhhhhhhh

I learn to roll because its fun.  I would still roll even if all I paddled
in was perfectly flat, calm water.

I dispute your claim that the roll is needed because you find yourself  in
conditions you can't handle.  A capsize doesn't mean the general conditions
are beyond your ability to control the boat.  If this is what you belive,
John, then you are seriously mistaken about the role of rolling.

The roll lets me play with conditions that I would otherwise have to paddle
in survival mode.  A capsize doesn't always mean you can't handle the
conditions .  It means an isolated event caught you off gaurd.  It means you
tried to put the kayak into a weird position that didn't quite work (eg. an
ender or a flat spin).  As long as the conditions don't prevent you from
rolling and you're in control, you can handle the conditions --- even if
they regularly cause you to capsize.

The best example of this is the surf zone.  If I didn't have the roll, the
surf zone would be a place to avoid.  If I had to spend time in the surf, it
would be to launch and land as quickly as possible.  But because of the
roll, I can go out and play in the surf.  Sure it flips me quite a bit (I
never said I was any good at surfing), but I just pop back up and go out for
more.  Just because I flip when I surf doesn't mean I can't handle the surf
conditions.

By having a roll, I lean that much harder when I carve turns.  I can head
into a  tide rip  and play 'cause I know if I make a mistake and flip, I can
pop right back up.  I can aggressively use sculling and draw strokes and not
worry about the consequences of a mistake.  Rolling lets me more fully
experience paddling.  Its a liberating skill that opens up huge
opportunities for more fulfilling paddling.

- --Tim



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Received on Wed May 12 1999 - 19:02:00 PDT

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