Re: [Paddlewise] Reenter and Roll; Bracing

Bob,

The best way to improve your bracing skills and to learn how to reenter and 
rolls is to just do it, meaning just get the water and practice.  Since you 
want to learn how to reenter and roll, I assume you can already roll and 
brace.  Besides reading some instruction on how to brace, all you can do is 
practice.  However, one trick is to use lots of back lean to lower your 
center of gravity.

As for the reenter and roll, you have to have a good roll first.  Some steps 
beyond that is to practice rolling your sea kayak with the sprayskirt off, in 
other words, swamped.  If you have a good sweep roll, rolling a swamped sea 
kayak really is easy, not as easy as a dry one, but still totally doable.  
You also need to practice rolling without setting up before tipping over.  
One good way to practice is too tip over with holding the paddle against the 
side of the cockpit with only one hand, and then set up and roll.  This is 
the position you will be in after getting in the cockpit for the reenter and 
roll anyway.

Climbing into the cockpit upside down (and a bit sideways) just takes 
practice with trial and error.  With all of the above drills, you should be 
on your way to doing the reenter and roll.

Good luck!

Duane Strosaker
Roll or drown!
 <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/pirateseakayaker/index.html">Pirate Sea 
Kayaker</A> 
 
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