[Paddlewise] Rolling - easier without a paddle?

    Just last week, I started to teach rolling first with hand paddles then 
quickly moving to "hands-only" rolls. I have been able to teach 4 people how 
to roll so far using this approach. ( I was student #3) In each of the four 
cases, the "student" has been able to roll consistently, without a paddle 
within 45 minutes of starting their training.  Most of these students were 
new to the sport, in good physical condition and had fair to good 
flexibility. I was the only exception to the aforementioned traits.  The hand 
roll I taught them is a two hand C to C.
    Conversely, I have had much slower and less predictable results teaching 
paddle rolls. Certainly the paddle roll students have been more mature, less 
flexible and have had more paddling experience.  Maybe their experience has 
hindered their mental flexibility.
    I have had success improving weak rolls by identifying weaknesses in 
technique, but lately I've been growing somewhat frustrated with my inability 
to get my "not yet" rolling students to follow the proper technique 
consistently enough to progress quickly.

    Does anyone else have any insights into teaching rolling via this 
approach.  I have a skill group that meets once a week. 20 seakayakers hungry 
to learn to roll, but they keep repeating the same problems of pulling down 
on the paddle rather than sweeping out on the surface and then pulling with 
their arms rather than working the hip rotation.
    Granted some of the paddler to boat fits are still sloppy, maybe I should 
concentrate on checking boat fit first, then move on to the exercises. Or 
possibly the difference is the one-on-one attention. Does anyone have some 
new approaches the I can try?  Thanks in advance for your input and ideas.

Jed (Who will never divulge his real name) Luby
Goffstown, NH

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