[Paddlewise] Pool Session Report (longish)

Paddlewisers,

I thought I'd add my pool session report to the growing list of these, as I
actually enjoy reading them.

Some short(ish) background: last year I started to get into whitewater
kayaking, after paddling a touring boat for a couple of years. Most of the
boaters around here (NW Arkansas) paddle WW exclusively, and some friends
got me to try it. I think if I had started when I was 20 (I'm now 30), I
would have loved it, but I no longer consider myself invisible and/or
bulletproof, and I just don't seem to need the adrenaline fix like I used to
(though I do need it on occasion, but not nearly as often). Also, WW
paddling in Arkansas means paddling when it's cold, as many of the runs get
REALLY bony in the summer (most folks start road tripping east or west at
that point). I had a couple of really fun trips, and then a couple of really
bad ones, with some scary upside down with no roll action and one
pin/strainer situation. I decided to stick to flatter water.  I've been
paddling my now-departed and being-replaced touring boat for a year more,
though I never learned to roll it.

Last night I went to a local pool roll session (every Tuesday night, 7-9pm,
$2.00; can't beat that) to finally learn to roll. Even in the pool, I was
VERY nervous in my borrowed WW boat at first. I did a couple of wet exits
for practice, then started working on my on-side hip snap on the edge of the
pool while the instructor worked with the other two beginners (while the
more experienced paddlers were in the deep end of the pool, throwing ends in
their rodeo boats!). I eventually got really comfortable being upside down,
knowing I could roll up on the wall or just wet exit if I drifted away from
the wall. I actually got to enjoy hanging upside down in the boat.

Eventually, the instructor got back to me, and I started working with a
paddle (a really short WW paddle) on a C-to-C roll.  My initial problems
were (1) raising my head and (2) diving the paddle. The water was shallow
enough that if I blew my roll a couple of times, I could bottom brace and
grab enough air to set up again without help.  I finally quit raising my
head, but I'm still having problems with my paddle position.

I did actually hit 3 or 4 sloppy rolls completely by myself, though, so I
sortof figured it out. Now I need to work on my technique (then offside,
then extended paddle, THEN in my new touring boat when it arrives). Rolling
is an insanely powerful ego boost, and if nothing else, it's going to
increase my comfort and confidence on the water. When my new boat arrives,
I'm going to work on self-rescues in the deep end, too, since there are
usually only 5-8 boats in the whole pool.

Thanks for listening.

Cheers,

Steve


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Steven Jarvis
sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com
Fayetteville, Arkansas USA
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