RE: [Paddlewise] Elite racers now Rolling

From: James <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:33:30 -0500
Mark Sanders said:  how long does it take a new WW kayaker to acquire
it? Many of us sea kayakers who at least try to learn to roll take quite
a while to master it if ever and in the meantime, we can enjoy paddling
at a lesser level.



Speaking only for myself - I learned to roll in a pool class in the
winter.  By that spring I had a reliable roll.  I paddled whitewater
fanatically (slalom and wildwater racing) from 1978 through 1994.  Still
paddle it once in a while, like the Grand Canyon a couple years ago.  My
roll has been terrific since I learned it in the pool.  I have had to
swim because of failed rolls only twice since 1978 and only four times
because of being pinned.

So - one good season of pool practice, doing about 50 rolls a session,
rolling on both sides without a setup, rolling with no paddle, rolling
with only one hand and no paddle, I developed a roll that hasn't failed
me since 1989.

Unfortunately, I have never been knowcked over in a sea kayak unless I
was surfing, so I can't speak to a combat roll in one.  But my Grand
Canyon trip led to me having to roll once and it worked just fine.

Perfect practice leads to perfect results.

look at  http://www.btinternet.com/~ringwood.canoe/rolling.htm


Jim Tibensky
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Received on Thu Oct 11 2007 - 07:51:04 PDT

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