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From: <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Grace Under Pressure-and roll environment
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 12:07:25 EDT
In a message dated 9/11/2003 4:17:43 PM Central Daylight Time, 
Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com writes:


> Pardon my ignorance... is there a difference between a WW roll and a Sea
> Kayak roll?  I just figured that each type of roll was the same
> regardless of which type of boat you were in.  

Whichever type of roll you choose, learn it well and possibly add another 
type to your  faculties. The most important thing after learning the technique 
side of rolling is actually using it in real conditions. The surf zone is a 
great place for that.

If you are a kayak surfer then you know it is difficult or impossible to roll 
downstream of the wave. In the river, downstream is like rolling upstream in 
the ocean as the waves appear to come from downstream. It's the support of a 
wave that makes rolling easy in a rough water environment. Otherwise, wait 
until the waters still enough and make one deft roll. In the river it is not 
likely that you will want to be hanging upside down using your helmet all the time 
waiting for the water to still. When I get blown over I try to scull into the 
water pressure and then click it back over. It's the same feeling as coming up 
through the water pressure in an ocean wave, just a different direction. The 
rolls are the same, the environments are different enough to require an 
understanding of each.

Rob G

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From: <KiAyker_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Grace Under Pressure-and roll environment
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:29:09 EDT
In a message dated 9/12/2003 9:09:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Rcgibbert_at_aol.com writes:
If you are a kayak surfer then you know it is difficult or impossible to roll 
downstream of the wave. In the river, downstream is like rolling upstream in 
the ocean as the waves appear to come from downstream. It's the support of a 
wave that makes rolling easy in a rough water environment. 
   Bracing (which is all any roll really is) is always done downstream, 
regardless of the type of water your in. In the surf the water is being drawn from 
the beach and up the face of the wave, so by bracing into the wave you are, in 
fact, bracing downstream.

Scott
So.Cal.

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From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Grace Under Pressure-and roll environment
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 19:57:48 +1000
Scott wrote: -
>Bracing (which is all any roll really is)
>is always done downstream, regardless of
>the type of water your in. In the surf
>the water is being drawn from the beach
>and up the face of the wave, so by bracing
>into the wave you are, in fact, bracing
>downstream.

G'Day,

Does this mean that it doesn't matter which side you brace when you roll in
a wave? My off side roll is so weak that it probably wouldn't work even if
there is a wave to help. Up to now if I find my self with my off side roll
facing into the wave (away from the shore) I usually wait until it has
passed and then roll up with my on side roll - I haven't been successful so
far using an on side roll when it is facing towards the shore while I'm
still in the wave.

All the best, PeterO


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From: <KiAyker_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Grace Under Pressure-and roll environment
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 09:14:06 EDT
Does this mean that it doesn't matter which side you brace when you roll in
a wave? My off side roll is so weak that it probably wouldn't work even if
there is a wave to help. Up to now if I find my self with my off side roll
facing into the wave (away from the shore) I usually wait until it has
passed and then roll up with my on side roll - I haven't been successful so
far using an on side roll when it is facing towards the shore while I'm
still in the wave.

   No, what it means is what I said, you need to brace down current, which in 
the case of surf means into the wave. It really doesn't take much to roll in 
the face of a wave. In fact there is a maneuver called "window shading" in 
which you capsize and extend your paddle into the face of the wave while upside 
down and underwater, and the upswelling water will lift your paddle and bring 
you back upright. While a fun surf trick, the first time most people experience 
this is completely by accident. They capsize up current in the face of a 
wave, and while they are still trying to figure out what happened, they 
accidentally roll back up! 
   But like you say, the easiest way for most people to roll back up in the 
surf zone is to wait for the wave to pass and then come up on whatever side is 
easiest for you to roll on. Trying to roll up current, towards the beach, 
while in a wave cannot be done. Or at least I am not aware of anyone who has ever 
managed to accomplish this.

Scott
So.Cal.

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