Re: [Paddlewise] Surf & Skill Ratings; Rolling Under

I like to wait to roll under at the last second.  Since you won't begin your 
roll up until after the wave passes over you and the turbulence stops, you 
want to minimize the amount of time you're holding your breath.

Since I've been doing a lot of cardio cross training, I'm able to hold my 
breath quite a long time.  Being able to hold your breath a long time keeps 
you relaxed as you are being violently tossed around upside down.  (It's fun 
with the right gear and deep water). Also, keep your paddle close to the "set 
up" position.  I had forgot to do this once and while I was holding onto my 
paddle above my head, I felt I was in a torture chamber being stretched.

One other important skill in doing this comfortably is being able to roll 
your kayak without a spray skirt (a swamped boat).  Practice this OUT of the 
surf zone first.  Several times while playing in the surf in my sea kayak, 
the spray skirt has popped off.  Rolling a swamped kayak isn't that 
difficult, but the boat does roll more slowly.  Having the ability to hold 
your breath a long time and the confidence of being able to roll a fully 
swamped boat will serve you well.  You won't panic.  (Duane Strosaker taught 
me that). 

When I practice in the surf, I use the wood Aleutian paddle I built.  No 
feathered Euro paddle for me; since this is the paddle I use 99% of the time. 
 My paddle has survived a lot of surfing at San Onofre with lots of hard 
stern rudders.  Hopefully, it will continue to serve me well.

Enjoy the surf.

jim gabriel - who has eaten it more than once in the surf.

>From owner-owner_at_ns1.intelenet.net Sun Dec  3 14:34 PST 2000
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Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Info on accountability.
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Pete,

You stated:
An individual paddler is always 100%
responsible for their own actions. Excuses (my boat is too short or it's
just a S-O-T and not fast enough) don't cut it. We, as the legal (and
moral) master of a vessel, must accept all responsibility for that craft
and crew (of one or two).

I don't mean that at all!  Everyone gets used to their boat and develops the
skills necessary to control it.  The point Bill and I were trying to make was
that the amount of effort and skill required to do this is different for each
boat.  A weather cocking boat is going to take a lot more of both to keep with a
pack of hard tracking ones.  The hard trackers are going to require more skill
to turn in tight quarters.  Yes, with developed techniques this becomes easier,
but it is certainly more demanding.  Many boats are ranked "beginner or expert"
because of this.

I accept the fact that I must be proficient paddler for my plastic boat to keep
up with a fast fiberglass one.  With the debate raging on skill levels, we MUST
look at the individual's boat.

 Point: Don't classify a paddler's skill level or effort without looking at his
vessel!  There is a degree of difficulty involved.  This forum is just another
utility to help us master our vessels.

Tim
Boat'n in the Ozarks



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