Re: [Paddlewise] C to C vs Sweep Roll

Doug Lloyd wrote:
> 
> At 10:00 AM 11/27/99 -0800, Ralph wrote:
> 
> <snip> John chimmed in "Oh, don't worry
> >about that, Ralph.  At the height of the Greenlandic kayaking culture, a
> >third or more of the kayakers could not roll at all."  I don't think
> >John was advocating not learning to roll.  To the contrary.  I have also
> >heard him say something to the effect that x number of things happen to
> >you in a capsize if you wind up out of your boat, all of them _bad_.
> >But I just think it is worthwhile shedding more light on the historical
> >perspective.
> 
> Ralph,
> I new in my bones when I posted last night that I would hear from you
> today, and I'm glad I did. Depending on where you paddle, what kind of boat
> you have, and what other recovery methods you have, you don't have to have
> the ability to roll. I was staying in the context of Duane's original post,
> which subscribed to us diehard rollers. As far as Inuit culture, you are
> right again (as always). By contrast, in our culture, maybe 1/3 of serious
> paddlers can roll well, and of those, a good percentage will blow their
> roll in combat situations. So, paddle with friends and partners, have some
> kind of back-up rescue system (such as paddle float or a reenter and roll,
> the Back Up device, etc). I'll try to refrain from making "sweeping"
> statements about ancient Greenlanders for whom I do not know much about.
> However, if I ever paddle in frigid Arctic waters, I'll be happy just to
> have one or two rolls that are reliable, thank you very much.
> 

I am glad you took my remark in the friendly, non-confrontational way
that it was given, i.e. mainly as an addendum.

There is no issue that a good reliable combat roll is the best thing to
have and paddlers in kayaks that favor rolling easily should strive hard
as they can to be in a position not to blow a roll.  Or, better yet, if
they blow one have enough skill to stay in their boat and give it
another try, hanging out on their side catching their breath for further
attempts.  I believe John Heath is right on his remark about x things
happen if you capsize and wind up out of your boat all of them bad or at
least problematic.

I am also glad you confirm the basic figure that I sense is correct
about modern sea kayakers, i.e. that about 1/3 of the serious ones
(whatever that means and I don't want to quarrel over the term) know how
to roll and of these a goodly number will blew their roll when it counts
under adverse conditions.

Perhaps the remedy in rolling, whatever the particular types of roll,
should be on dealing with a blown roll and still staying in your boat in
a relaxed breathing position.  I have watched good rollers do just
that.  There was one, for example, who decided to try rolling my
K-Light.  He approached it conservatively using his least fancy roll and
then moved up to more elaborate ones.  When he reached a point during
these sessions in which a more complex roll would fail, he just dropped
back down, caught his breath (if he needed to) and then switched to an
Old Faithful roll.  What impressed me the most in this case (and I saw
it also with Maligiaq who blew, or better stated, didn't make an
occasional roll as _graceful_ as he wanted, and just dropped down to
half way to do it again) was, and is, the ability to not panic and to
get set up again.  If that in-between stage could really be taught well
than even so-so rollers would probably be okay.

While it is not a C to C roll, Matt Broze, if I recall correctly, has on
his web site an approach to rolling that can take you to that in-between
stage.  He has you learning rolling in a backward order by starting at
the point of a finished roll with head over the rear deck then dropping
back into the water in reverse of a roll.  All of this is like running a
film backwards.  It seems to get you into that in-between position with
head facing up in the water bouyed up by your PFD and with paddle
skimming out on the water.

Of course, I don't know the least thing about rolling.  So don't take my
word for it.  :-)

ralph diaz   
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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