I am new to this list and only a kayaker for one year. I am past 60 years of age but in pretty good condition physically. The two lessons I took involved only a token lesson in rolling the kayak. I'm wonder if there are members of the list that are approximately in my age category that have learned to roll and how easy/hard it was and where. I'm in Kingston, Ontario and the interest in the top is such that it is hard to find a class here. I wouldn't consider whitewater kayaking unless I was able to do this. I'm sure that on a windy day and with large waves being able to roll would be an asset as well. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
ClevengerGW_at_aol.com wrote: > I am new to this list and only a kayaker for one year. I am past 60 years of > age but in pretty good condition physically. The two lessons I took involved > only a token lesson in rolling the kayak. I'm wonder if there are members of > the list that are approximately in my age category that have learned to roll > and how easy/hard it was and where. I'm in Kingston, Ontario and the > interest in the top is such that it is hard to find a class here. I wouldn't > consider whitewater kayaking unless I was able to do this. I'm sure that on > a windy day and with large waves being able to roll would be an asset as well. I exactly parallel you - I live in San Diego CA and will be taking my first roll class today. I agree with everything you say and your fear/cautions... -- Wayne Smith (ò¿ó) http://www.waynesmith.net/weight Humour: http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/Bandido_Jokesters October 7, 1999 - 315 lb. - BMI: 44 - Dr Rumbaut - Monterrey, Mexico --------------------------------------------------- Tag Line for Today: And, the driver compresses EVERYTHING, just not EXE & COM. --------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
ClevengerGW_at_aol.com writes: << I am new to this list and only a kayaker for one year. I am past 60 years of age but in pretty good condition physically. ... rolling the kayak ... >> The "other Ralph" (my tocayo Diaz, that is) must be past forty or so (certainly an elder, certainly not old) and he took up rolling (sometimes even folding kayaks?!?) not all that long ago. My father-in-law took up kayaking about the time he hit 70, when his knees no longer allowed him to run marathons. He recently started to roll. Some of the German and Austrian white water folding boat pioneers were still seen to be rolling in their nineties (in the nineteen nineties, by the way), some of them in their original boats: 16 and 17 foot by 19 inch white water folding kayaks (I stress this point :-) based on adapted Greenland type designs. I came to rolling relatively late (just the other side of forty from the other Ralph), but found that if you keep your head once inverted and work through your set-up and technique, it is not a strenuous activity or one requiring strength or even that much agility. (Being a little older might be an advantage since you might be less apt to give in to panic under water.) Ralph C. Hoehn Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com www.PouchBoats.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/12/00 3:32:40 PM, ClevengerGW_at_aol.com writes: << I'm wonder if there are members of the list that are approximately in my age category that have learned to roll and how easy/hard it was and where. >> Although I was a relative spring chicken when I learned to roll at 43, I have had the opportunity to teaching rolling to people from 12 to 60. In my experience flexibility of mind and body combined with the ability to relax while upside down in a kayak are the greatest determining factors governing how quickly or arduously someone learns to roll a kayak. As long as the student has a boat that is not overly beamy and provides a snug and secure fit, most people can learn to roll in two or three intensive sessions. There is almost no strength required if ones learns proper technique. The movements themselves are not complicated but are somewhat counterintuitive. It's also very easy to learn incorrectly, picking up bad habits that are hard to break so it's best to seek professional instruction earlier rather than later. Lastly white water pool sessions are more numerous and easier to find than seakayak pool sessions and white water boats are generally easier craft to roll and learn to roll. Good luck, you will find that rolling is a fun skill that can go a long way towards increasing your enjoyment of the sport. Jed *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I am new to this list and only a kayaker for one year. I am past 60 years of >age but in pretty good condition physically. The two lessons I took involved >only a token lesson in rolling the kayak. I'm wonder if there are members of >the list that are approximately in my age category that have learned to roll >and how easy/hard it was and where. I'm in your age group and I do kayak, have done so for years, but I do not have a roll (although I can roll an open canoe). I can wet exit easily, I am proficient in doing an eskimo bow rescue, etc. and I always paddle with others if there is a risky situation involved. Someday perhaps I'll attend some more sessions and nail it down, but I don't feel it to be essential to have. And I certainly do not feel inhibited to the point I won't paddle. And yes, much of that is whitewater paddling.... > I'm sure that on >a windy day and with large waves being able to roll would be an asset as well. > I think what I'm saying is that is an asset but not a necessity.... Joe P. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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