Re: [Paddlewise] snippings

> I respect the fact that rolling is not done perfectly by everyone deemed
> normally to have a decent roll, but rolling is not really a huge commitment.
> If
> you remove the context of Sea from Kayaker you would find rolling a much more
> common skill. Yes, the tuning of that roll in dynamic conditions takes a
> longer time, but can you even make an informed decision without knowing a
> basic
> roll? The sneaky thing about Dan is he is really talking about judgement and
> you  don't really have to have a combat roll if you are judicious about your
> paddling  venue. Of course, advancing your capabilities in case you are
> unjudicious  doesn't seem so unrealistic to me. I was unrealistic 8 times last
> weekend, but  then again, I was surfing, a caveat he allowed himself.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Rob G
> 
> 

I'd like to be able to roll. Really.

But my attempts to self-teach myself have been miserable failures, 
and the most easily available courses are both too expensive for my 
budget and at inconvenient times and places.

Having other people who can roll attempt to give pointers hasn't 
worked either.

Due to my geographical location, most of my paddling is on relatively 
sheltered waters -- lakes and rivers in Eastern Ontario. I get out on 
the Great Lakes once or twice a year and maybe do a trip on the St. 
Lawrence or the Atlantic even less frequently.

I stop paddling in mid-November and don't start again until the ice 
is well off the water -- probably April sometime.

I have practised self-rescues in all kinds of conditions. I can get 
back in my boat with relative ease even in two to three foot waves 
and a wind strong enough to have the flags snapping on the flagpoles. 

Do I still need a roll?

I'm not sure at all. It's a serious question.

If I could roll, I might be tempted to go out in conditions that I 
now avoid. Would that be good? Would I be too cocky about my 
abilities for my own good? Possibly. Am I too cautious now? Also a 
possibility.

Hard to tell, isn't it? 

Having a roll, I think, would be a "good thing". Another arrow in the 
old quiver, so to speak. Is it a "necessary thing"? It better not be, 
or I have no business being out on the water. Nor the many others 
like me who can't roll but who can do a reasonable self-rescue, 
especially if there's another boat to help out.

-- 
  Darryl
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************