[Paddlewise] To Roll No More....oh the indignity!

In a message dated 6/7/00 8:02:55 AM, mkayaks_at_oz.net writes:

<< There is a method to help you learn to roll without having to understand it

(or picture it while you are upside down) on our website in the "Rescues"

manual. You put a float on your paddle so you can do things in slow motion

without losing your position. Start from the finish of the roll and work

backwards towards the start in small steps (while succeeding at each step

along the way rather than practicing failure). Windup and unwind. You've

always just been there a few seconds before during the windup so you don't

get confused about what to do and where to go next and have to think about

it. >>

Hi all,
    Matt, I "discovered" this technique quite by accident when I was learning 
to roll. Since I had no one that could spot me, I "invented" the technique 
for placing a paddle float on the end of my paddle. I continued to develop a 
learning sequence that worked on the "Hip snap" first then added the sweep 
and finally the capsize into the set up position.
    An interesting thing about this technique is that the student can feel 
the roll without actually being able to do one without the assisting float 
and as you said above there is minimal thought involved.  Also the use of a 
float allows the student to slow down the sequence so that they can 
concentrate on the feel and the flow rather than the mechanics.  All of this 
translates to a wonderful sensory learning experience, just gently repeat the 
exercise until it feels natural and it's almost too easy.
    Once the movements feel natural, the student can flip the paddle 
end-for-end and try the roll sans the float. If the roll fails, just switch 
the paddle back and roll with the float again. The variations are near 
endless, you can partially deflate the float to work your way towards using a 
bare paddle and to facilitate learning to keep the paddle at the surface 
during the sweep. Pulling ones body towards the surface during the sweep 
becomes a natural response to keeping the paddle blade at the surface.
    I have taught scores of people to roll using this technique. I never tire 
of the looks on their faces as the pieces fall together and they start to 
learn "the dance".  This is one very good way to avoid the over analyzing 
that stops some people cold.
    I'm a little sad to hear that I wasn't the first but very proud to have 
found (in parallel) this (your) technique.  Thanks for bursting my bubble but 
making my day!  ;-)

Jed Luby
Goffstown, NH
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************