Re: [Paddlewise] Why is rolling considered and advanced skill?

Brian I am a whitewater paddler as well and strongly encourage people to learn
how to roll.  However I strongly believe everyone should have a paddle float as
a back-up to either use to aid in a reentry roll or to use in an outrigger
rescue.  I know a lot of people who have rolls that I am quite certain would
bail out if they capsized in rough water.  A pool roll or a pond roll just does
not cut it.  You need to practice rolling in rough water on a regular basis if
you are going to count on having a rough water roll.

When I first learned to roll I was attending pool sessions at the Universtiy of
Michigan twice a week as part of a whitewater club.  Before ever getting on a
whitewater river I was able to hand roll my kayak one-handed with one hand
literally behind my back.  However when I encountered my first real capsize in
rapids that spring in 35 degree water,  with my helmet bouncing along the bottom
my technique consisted of lifting my head, making sort of a barking seal noise
and bailing out.  Not the proudest moment of my life but and important lesson
learned.  I have since learned to relax deal with the cold-shock, and roll up in
" combat conditons "  However I was obviously not as prepared as I thought I was
for that first real capsize in rapids.

I have done a lot of good combat rolls in whitewater since then, but if I really
had to roll or die I would have been dead a few dozen times over.  We always
need to have a plan B, whether it is a team rescue with a trusted friend or
paddle float assisted rescue, just knowing the technique is not enough.  You
need to practice it in realistic conditions.

At the risk of starting the debate again, I am confident that an expert paddler
could do a paddle float rescue in virtually all conditions.  However as an
instructor I have witnessed beginners doing paddle float rescues for the first
time on calm water and I would give them a zero chance of success in any kind of
seas.  Whether you are counting on a roll or a paddle float rescue there are a
lot of smug paddlers out there with a false sense of security, who have never
really practiced their techniques in realistic conditions.  We all need to be
able to get back in our boats in rough water in one or two minutes for our
chosen self-rescue methods to be of any use.

Brian Jernigan wrote:

> As a crossover whitewater paddler, I've been intrigued by the recent
> discussions of rolling.  Among whitewater paddlers, rolling is considered a
> necessary skill.  It would be nearly impossible to develop more advanced
> (whitewater) boat handling skills without first mastering a roll. Clearly it
> isn't as much of a necessity for touring paddlers who only paddle in benign
> conditions.  On the other hand, at least among whitewater paddlers I'm
> familiar with, almost anyone can learn to roll with some instruction and
> some perserverance.  If you're comfortable enough hanging upside down in
> your boat to perform a wet exit, there's no reason to be apprehensive about
> learning to roll.  I learned to roll before I had solid high and low braces,
> and I think having the roll first helped me develop these skills more
> quickly and confidently. Even folks who never plan to need a roll can use it
> as a stepping stone to more confident boat handling in general.  It's sort
> of the ultimate demonstration of what you can do with your body to control
> the boat.
>
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