Derek said: The challenge that I've diagnosed recently is regarding orientation of the paddle. If I go under in paddle ready position, I can roll up consistently. If I go under in less or more than paddle ready position,I find that I can't orient the paddle consistently. I used two different solutions to this problem when I was teaching whitewater paddling. The best solution is to use a Pawlata roll. Google "Pawlata" and you'll find some really good explanations. This roll takes a little longer to set up in a combat situation, but it is so reliable that even some whitewater paddlers (although not many) stick with it. Better to take two seconds to set up for a reliable roll than rush into bad technique that requires multiple attempts. And in sea kayaking your head is not often bumping off rocks, so there is more time. With the Pawlata, and the somewhat similar "put across" roll, the blade angle is assured if you have a feathered paddle. I prefer this to super indexing the control hand's paddle shaft. I think that a lot of people don't like the Pawlata because it isn't the one that the Big Boys use. I never use it myself because my screw roll is reliable. But having the Pawlata in your bag of tricks is a good back-up. It just isn't sexy. The second solution is trickier. It involves pushing the paddle blade that is toward the bow up against the hull after you have capsized. You can (usually) feel whether or not the blade is flat to the hull or edge on to the hull. You then have the information you need to adjust, or not, the angle. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Aug 08 2007 - 05:37:42 PDT
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