Re: [Paddlewise] Roll Good? Followup

    Mike Daly's advise is spot on as far as I'm concerned. If the roll is 
more difficult with the paddle not extended, then you are over-relying on the 
paddle. If the roll fails when you slow it down a bit, that's an indication 
that your technique and timing have room to improve.

    The fact that your roll failed at the slower speed is not surprising. You 
know how to right the boat...in a warm heated pool. You've shown that you can 
right the boat in a pool with your paddle extended and also some times with 
your paddle in the normal position. What you want to learn now is how to 
right the boat when you are cold and tired and too exhausted to paddle or 
swim and the wind is howling and the seas are steep and your paddle just 
broke and you've lost your contacts and you feel nauseous and you are 5 miles 
from land and there is no one to save or help you and your sinuses are full 
of salt water and you've swallowed some more salt water and you believe in 
sea monsters..you thought you saw a dorsal fin..and the water is god-awfully 
cold...and your significant other needs your help to get back to terra firma.
    The ideal roll can be no more difficult than rolling over in your bed. We 
practice our rolls to make them easier to perform which coincidentally makes 
them more reliable. If you are a serious student of rolling and advanced 
kayak skills you will incorporate all of the advice people have offered into 
*your* own unique rolling style. Not all at once but over the years. You will 
find your self starting to think about keeping the boat from turning on the 
x/y axis. You will strive to lighten your push on the paddle. You will 
experiment with slowing down and speeding up. You will strive to keep your 
ear on your shoulder. You will play around with the timing of your roll, when 
you start the hip rotation. You start to stretch more before you paddle so 
your hips are more limber.
    The exploration of all of these nuances is what will lead you toward 
*your* roll. All of them will add up to that roll that is too complicated to 
analyze, but is felt. And it will feel very good indeed.

Enjoy the journey
Jed
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