Re: [Paddlewise] Real life rolling

From: je <janellen_at_harriman4.net>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 09:49:20 +0100
On 19 May 2004, at 21:47, Steve Cramer wrote:

> I'll take it a little farther than that. Around here, hundreds of 
> paddlers paddle in warm flat water for years without flipping at all. 
> Should they learn to roll as a safety measure? This would, of course, 
> entail purposefully flipping several times on each outing, to practice 
> a self-rescue technique that they wouldn't, in the normal course of 
> 5-10 years, ever need. Northern boaters' experience may vary.

This is why rolling is new to me though I've had kayaks for 15 years.  
I started out on lakes, ponds & streams in Vermont just out to look at 
the wildlife and be alone.  I have only fallen over on purpose before.  
I never needed even re-entry techniques 'cause I was never that far 
from the shore.  I used to say I just wasn't capable of doing anything 
stupid enough to capsize, which was and is perfectly true on flat 
water.  (I've been in boats of all sorts since the age of 4)

but now... now the ocean!

Stayed on the south shore of Boston a few years back and got my first 
taste of waves.  Now we spend a month each summer there.  I have gotten 
into water that was too big for my former skill set and carefully taken 
myself back to shore.  This is why I started this thread.  I was 
shocked to hear the Dave Hutchinson quote as I know how clever the 
ocean can be... rogue waves, deflected or concentraited winds and all.

Things my dad taught me never leave - PFDs are NOT optional  -  It's 
only fun if you get to come back and tell about it!

Thanks for all the great posts and input.  It has improved my 
concentration during rolling practice (and added edging and bracing to 
the exercise).

Cheers,
je


The world revolves around engineers...only because they choose to pick 
their own coordinate origin.
-------------------------------------
janellen_at_harriman4.net
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Received on Thu May 20 2004 - 06:23:39 PDT

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