RE: [Paddlewise] PRACTIVE ROUTINES

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Rick Sylvia [SMTP:Rick.Sylvia_at_ferginc.com]
	Folks, I almost hesitate to ask this question because there are
soooo many
	factors which could play into your decisions.   But, I'd like to
hear your
	thoughts in order to help me formulate mine ---  how often do you
practice
	self rescues? 


Rick 

Heres my self Rescue training

To give some background I have been sea kayaking for about six years but
flat water paddling for a lot longer than that. I have been able to roll for
about 5 years. Most of my sea kayaking is down on the south cost of NSW,
Australia with reasonable water temperatures. In summer its magic but in
winter with a good wetsuit on you can still surf for a couple of hours
before becoming too cold. I live in Canberra (about 200k from the coast)
which has a small lake which I just do training paddles on. 

Training system
I don't usually practice any rolling on the Canberra Lake as it seems a bit
murky and in winter is far too cold. When I go down to the coast for a sea
kayak trip I nearly always do a few rolls just before I land.  I try to have
around 1 weekend a month at the coast and if I am lucky a week trip once a
year. This year was exceptional as I had a 5 week expedition in March.

I also do regular surf sessions (about 6 days a year) and I find this by far
the best training for rolling and bracing. I push it pretty hard in the surf
(upto 7feet) and often end up upside down. I find this the best arena for
practicing my rolling as you have been tossed around, out of breath,
disorientated etc. I occasionally bomb my rolls in the surf and will also
practice re-enter and rolls in the surf zone. I look at my surfing sessions
as my main training area plus its a lot of fun.

In summer I spend several weeks on a lake and here I practice my rolls,
re-enter and rolls and cowboy entries. Over a two week period I would
practice for about 5-7 days each time around a couple of hours. My cockpit
is pretty small and cowboy entries require a good bit of balance as you have
to put your feet in first. I often practice this by simply putting my kayak
in the water before hopping in on trips.

What should I practice??
For me I think the main one is rolls in adverse conditions and I find the
surf the best place for this. Often if we are on an easy weekend trip and
there is surf near the camping area we will unpack and play in the surf for
an hour.


To highlight the importance of regular training I was on a spring paddle a
few years ago without having done any rolling practice during winter. At the
end of the paddle Dave (whose a senior instructor and strong advocate of
practicing a roll at the end of every trip) said we should all do a roll
before landing. "Its too cold" I said. "plus I have a bomb proof roll". When
everyone else did one I felt guilty so did one as well but imagine my
embarrassement when I failed even after 3 attemps and had to wet exit. I
even failed my re-enter and roll. I had become complacent. Someone pointed
out what I was doing wrong, Failed to lean back far enough, and soon had it
back. But if I had needed this roll for real it may have been more than
embassing. Since then I always try and do a roll on each trip if its not a
training session.

I hope this helps
David



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