Re: [Paddlewise] self-righting devices

Hi John, Peter & everyone,

    I started to reply to Peter Question last night but in a rare lucid 
moment I decided to save the post for additional editing. 

To answer you question John:
    I too use paddle floats to teach rolling and I think they are great for 
that purpose as well as for some other obscure self rescue techniques ;-)

    My comment was  "Rolling with some kind of inflatable device is no easier 
than rolling with a paddle." I was talking about using the inflatable device 
in lieu of a paddle not in addition to the paddle. I teach new students the 
hip-snap movement by putting a rigid foam paddle float in their hands and 
having them roll with that. I chose this approach because it is less 
forgiving of poor form. In other words you either use your hips or you swim. 
I suspect the same issues are true with the inflatable self-righting devices. 
Specifically one must perform a hipsnap to come up easily or else muscle 
their way up with their arms.

    I sometimes have students use inflatable paddle floats to work out the 
kinks in their normal rolls. We progress through lower and lower degrees of 
inflation until they can perform the roll with great technique and form with 
the uninflated float.

    I do believe that good form results in a nearly effortless roll, to that 
end I have found no other rescue technique or device that is less strenuous 
than a well performed roll. This has been my experience. I don't pretend to 
be an expert or even a long time paddler but in my own limited experience 
this is what I've found to be true.

    Your last comment "Perhaps Jeds comment holds more truth for someone that 
has good rolling technique.", may be the key here. Certainly we have all seen 
many, many people struggle with bad form and end up with a roll that could 
never be totaly relied upon. But there are a few out of a hundred, that can 
roll at will from any position and in any conditions. These are the people, 
for whom "rolling is no more difficult than rolling over in bed". These are 
the people that have effortless rolls and for whom the use of an inflatable 
righting device would be more difficult than to simply roll.

Respectfully submitted,
Jed


In a message dated 2/14/01 3:52:41 PM, jaf30_at_cornell.edu writes:

<< I thought about Jeds comment also and wondered why he would make it.  I am 
also an advocate for using a paddle float for learning how to roll.  The 
paddlefloat makes it very easy to come up while you're still developing your 
technique.  It makes it much easier to roll, when your technique isn't 
perfect.  Some might see that as a disadvantage because it allows one to pull 
down on the paddle more so than using the hip snap and having a good blade 
angle during the sweep.  Perhaps Jeds comment holds more truth for someone 
that has good rolling technique. >>

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