RE: [Paddlewise] Rolling With Eyes Closed?

On 17 Oct 2003 at 6:27, Steve Brown wrote:

> I have noticed that people who are struggling with their rolls are
> usually keeping their eyes closed. Opening eyes will not solve all
> rolling issues, but it helps. During set up a paddler with eyes closed
> will sometimes set up in crazy positions, like paddle vertical, or
> even under the boat. The reason for this is obvious; they can't yet
> tell what position their body is in without looking. 

There have been a couple of responses that mention this sort of 
thing.  I think that this is actually a good reason for practicing 
with eyes closed.  You want to develop your body awareness without 
looking at what you're doing.

The best rolling student I've had was a very keen student of yoga.  
She had superb body control and awareness.  She wanted to learn how 
to roll without a paddle, since she felt it got in the way(!!).  I 
showed her a butterfly roll instead and she got it on the second try. 
The only reason she blew the first was because she tried to use both 
hands on the paddle instead of one.  Second try!! How many learn a 
roll that quickly? She did it by imitating my demonstration in every 
detail - obviously aided by years of yoga study (among other things).

If you can't know your body position without sight, then you will 
never develop a reliably roll.  You have to practice this sort of 
thing until you can do it instinctively.  Having taught cross-country 
skiing and kayak rolling, I know that a lot of folks have problems 
knowing what their body is doing without looking, but it's essential 
for good skill development.  Body awareness is one of the most 
fundamental skills in sports.

You should be able to set up the paddle by feel.  This means either 
developing a feel for the oval/index or sliding your hand to the 
blade root.  With practice, you'll get a feel for paddle orientation 
just by water pressure on the blade when you move it in any 
direction.  Extended paddle rolls should be very easy to set up with 
eyes closed  - you're holding the blade!

As well, you should be able to orient the paddle to the water surface 
by feel as well.  Get your hands into the air before doing the roll 
and feel the surface (slapping the paddle on the surface is a basic 
manoeuvre).  

Since most folks can hold their breath for thirty seconds or so, 
spend that time upside-down working on orientation practice.  As I 
said in a previous post, I can "see" everything upside down with my 
eyes closed because I visualize everything inside my head.  Set 
yourself underwater and upside-down goals like - 

- take a bit of rope from under your bungies and untie a knot
- ditto and tie a knot 
- toss away your paddle and take up your spare from under deck 
bungies
- switch your paddle end-for-end and set up
- swing your paddle around and turn the blade to follow the movement 
with minimum resistance.
- switch rolls (e.g. set up onside and switch to offside, or set up 
on the rear deck and switch to foredeck and vice-versa)
- take off your pfd and roll with it
- do a somersault reentry and roll.

Do these one at a time, of course.  These will aid in both making you 
aware of what you're doing and making you comfortable with how much 
time you can spend upside-down holding your breath before rolling.  
You'll also learn to "see" with various parts of your body (the 
somersault entry will allow you to "see" with your feet and legs).

You won't always be able to see underwater and if you rely on seeing, 
you'll fail under poor visibility conditions.  Everything should be 
practiced until automatic.

Mike

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