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.) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
When I wanted to learn to roll I took myself out in the protected lake one afternoon. I started holding onto a dock and getting the feel for the hip snap. Then I used a inflated paddle float. Then I think that I used the paddle float on the paddle. After about 15 minutes I did a roll with just the paddle. It is the simplest roll that I can understand, but I don't know what it is called. When upside down I lean over toward the surface and reach up with my paddle. When the paddle is in position, perpendicular to the boat, one end across the hull and the other near the surface to the side I pull myself up. It is mostly hip snap. I finish with one paddle buried in the water. I've tried to teach myself a screw roll, but have not been able to figure out it's more complex motion. A week ago I was practicing up in the San Juans. I came up on my left, started to go over on my right, used a high brace, and dislocated my right shoulder. I ended upside down with my shoulder out of joint. I swam out and had my friend help me relocate my shoulder, got back in my boat, paddled to shore, and have been resting since. I set my roll back a full year. I need to improve my high brace form, keeping my elbow down to protect my shoulder. Tom. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:14 PDT