RE: [Paddlewise] rolls and failure

At 09:55 AM 2/18/00 -0800, you wrote:
>>Yes Doug,
You can be considered a failure>> 

Ah, a failure to you, I guess. A failure to others too...perhaps! No
problemo. Chris Duff describes in his book how he had to roll over to let
the hull of his kayak absorb the energy of a sudden boomer. Apparently,
he's a failure too! I love the company...good company you know, eh?

>>One has to look at the surroundings they are in and way the odds of what
might happen.   It is just like mountaineering, you don't just press on
ahead regardless of the terrain or weather you have to understand the
conditions.    Many a time club outings in Victoria paddlers constantly
press forward without a clear understanding of the ramifications.   It is
just a matter of time when some so-called "experienced" paddler gets into
problem.    It probably won't be you but it could be someone else and I am
sure this is the case in many other places in the world too >>

What about if you do know the ramifications, are willing to take the
exposure as an "acceptable risk" and press on. Guess then you are a fool
_and_ a failure. Guess I _am_ a fool and a failure. However, I enjoy
pushing limits, challenging my mental and physical stamina, and taking it
to the edge - all alone, no one else to bail me out. I hate board and
computer games, hate team sports, hate crossword puzzles, hate river
paddling with a bunch of adrenaline yahoo junkies or hole tricksters with
their latest squirt boats. I work out hard at the gym, don't put crap food
into my body like most North Americans do stuffing themselves with carbs or
going the other way with too much protein, and just love being out at sea
working the odds, threading my way along challenging coasts. It provides a
deep satisfaction, invokes a deep-play crucial to my existence, engages me
spiritually far more than worship in a church devoid of context due to
remoteness from nature, and releases natural chemicals into my blood stream
whose effects are untold yet unequivocally sure. I need my roll, my
back-ups, and a little luck and a lot of determination at times (novice
caveat here). They say there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no bold,
old pilots. BS! The bold old pilots thrill audiences around the world every
time you go to an airshow. Some crash and burn from time to time. I do to,
but find the water much softer with most of the flames coming from friends!
  
>>Unfortunately many people consider knowing how to roll and the be all,
end all of paddling and have the misunderstanding that knowing how to roll
their kayak makes them invincible.    They are sadly mistaken.    I/myself
came from the school that learning to roll is the last thing you learn so
you can better braces and strokes without having to rely on a roll.>>

Hey, we agree on that one. Don't forget to add that sculling brace
though...can be mighty important in preventing a full knock-over.    

>>But this is just my opinion such as it is. K.Stevens>>

I should tell the list that you and I are good friends here in Victoria. 

BTW, I said:
>Also, if I'm traversing an exposed coast with heavy swell and I need to
>land and find a spot that isn't dumping - like just behind a little island,
>but get twisted and knocked-over in the convergence and confusion of
>reflected swell on the lee side 

I meant "refracted" not "reflected" swell. Was tired when I posted...had a
busy day. I had been searching for a new brain _all_ day!!!  :-)

Be cool, be safe, and enjoy whatever type of paddling you do --
rolling-ready or calm-water crusing -- just be aware of consequences. The
tenure of my overall paddling experience to date is that I don't paddle the
way I do due to existential angst, wanting to "prove" something, because of
a lousy marriage, a deprived childhood or merely for the "rush". I paddle
challenging conditions because I simple frickin enjoy it. As I almost
always do a "comfort zone" roll on every rough outing*, guess I'll remain a
_complete_ failure, while others can remain complete successes!

* The only outing where I really screwed up solo rough water paddling was
at Trial Island (the incident in SK Magazine). Interestingly enough, it was
the only rough water paddle in recent memory where I did not do a
preemptive "comfort roll" to "test the waters". So, _not_ rolling at first
may have been my failure! 

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who says success is in the eye of the beholder)

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