[Paddlewise] teaching rolling

Hi Everybody,

I have just started following the digest format of paddlewise. Lots 
of good advice.

My questions:

1) Looking for opinions on what is the best resource/ source of 
information about teaching /how to teach rolling.

2) Also if you have tried to teach people the counter intuitive skill 
called rolling, what are your favorite techniques. What works, what 
doesn't?

I start by getting people comfortable hanging up side down in their 
boats with me standing beside them in waist deep water. I get them to 
count and then tap the side of the boat when they want to be brought 
back upright.  If they haven't done a wet exit before we practice 
that as well.

Next we start working on hip flicks explaining that the paddle looks 
really sexy with all that sweeping but the power is your roll is in 
the hips.  I get folks to hang on the side of the pool/ on the nose 
of another  boat/ on to someone elses hands or what ever is close by 
that offers support.

Then it is time to start to introduce the paddle. I have the student 
get into the set up position with paddle on the deck of the boat and 
body leaning forward. Once upside down they slip the paddle out and 
pat the blade twice on the surface of the water to be sure that they 
have broken the surface of the water with the paddle.

I will then guide the paddle through the rolling motion asking them 
to just feel the motion of the paddle with their muscles to try to 
develop kinesthetic awareness. When the paddle is perpendicular they 
are starting to come out and they finish off with the  hip flick. 
After guiding them a few times I will get them to try it on their own 
and start giving corrections to the usual errors. (pulling across the 
deck of the boat underwater or pulling straight down instead of 
sweeping across the surface).

It is then a mater of doing less and less guiding of the paddle while 
they get more and more of a feel for it. I usually end up supporting 
and guiding the paddle with one finger at the end of the blade.

What do people think of using paddle floats to give the feel of the 
sweep with out having to worry about the paddle being pulled down? 
The paddle float is deflated a bit more each attempt to decrease the 
buoyance.

Any fans of the Pawlata roll as a progression step in teaching the roll?

C to C versus the screw roll?  What is better, what do you prefer?

My teaching environment at the moment is tidal lake with reasonably 
warm water using sea kayaks. (I am in the southern hemisphere so it 
is summer time)

Sorry if this is something that has been covered to death already. 
Just point me to the archives and I will go a searching. Looking 
forward to your responses and thanks in advance for all that respond.

cheers
Phil
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