[Paddlewise] Eskimo roll (learning fast)

I had an interesting experience with someone who wanted to learn to roll
a couple of weeks ago. It was the second day of his beginner class (and
I believe his second day ever in a kayak), and I was asked to show him
how to roll. This was unusual, especially due to the fact we were in a
deep water area where it was impossible for me to get out of my boat to
help him get the feel of it, as one might in a typical rolling class.
But I remembered that he had mentioned he would like to learn to roll
and we were preparing to practice rescues anyway, so I figured this was
just the lead instructor's clever way to make him happy and get him into
the cold water to practice rescues at the same time.

So I showed him a roll and then briefly explained the basic steps
involved. Then he tried to roll. He almost made it up, but lifted his
head and down he went. He stayed in the boat, though, and used my bow to
right himself. I gave him a couple of tips and he tried again with the
same result. Then on his third try he rolled. I almost couldn't believe
my eyes. 

I'm told on this past weekend he went back to take a surf zone class and
even got that roll to work a couple of times for real when he needed it.
I certainly wouldn't expect most people to learn to roll this easily,
but it is nice to know that it happens once in a while. 

And just in case anyone who needed months or years of practice before
rolling is hating this guy by now, I should tell you that not only is he
an exceptional student of kayaking, but that he's also a really nice
guy. :-) 

Frank
(Who was also lucky enough to pop up the first time a fellow Paddlewiser
showed me how to roll, although I think it took a couple of years before
it became a _good_ roll.)
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