Re: [Paddlewise] Roll-Proofing

Take up white water kayaking. Even if it's just for a month or two and even
if it's just Class II or III water. The only "practice" rolls I remember any
of my pals doing when we were on river was to cool off. Otherwise, the river
gives you lots of practice. The best way, I think, is to find a good club
with active white water paddlers who can be trusted to take newbies down
water that is safe enough. But, like many downhill skiers, there are w/w
kayakers who think it's a lot of fun to take a newbie down a chute that they
have no business being in. Caveat paddler.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That would be my opinion as well. Class 2 and 3 don't get the publicity they used too but class 2 can have some big waves, but be straightforward. In Paul Dutky's book The Bombproof Roll and Beyond, he says something to the effect that "the entrance exam to class 4 whitewater is a bombproof roll." I couldn't agree more. I would try to pick up a copy as it has some useful strategies to roll in waves and current differentials. If you are in a wave, roll when you feel up as less boat will be in the water.

I just spent a week paddling with a very good friend of mine who was a former Scottish slalom team member for many years and when in difficult water to roll in he often comes up for a breath until he feels his boat *go flat* and then pops up with the real roll. Another way of explaining that *go flat* bit is to envision your boat not really being equalized with the current and different forces are working against the edges. 

Having someone around to see that your head stays down is a good idea. If you have various symptoms of FailedRollItis, a disease discovered by Dr Carp, you can say things to yourself like, finish while looking at your outboard blade. If your paddle dives it may mean you are monkey arming it and take your sponge and put it in the armpit of your inboard blade and make sure it is there when you come up.

Last, a good instructor is quite useful. Good friends who dedicate part of the paddle trip to rolling and helping each other is also a blessing.

Cheers,

Rob G


-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
To: glamourpets_at_yahoo.com
Cc: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
Sent: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 5:00 pm
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Roll-Proofing



On Sun, Jul 27, 2008 at 4:04 PM, Derek <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote:

> Does anyone have any good tricks for proofing their roll?   Ib ve tried
> sprinting, capsizing, then rolling.  Ib ve also tried letting go of the
> paddle with one hand, reorienting the paddle, then rolling.  Any other
> ideas?
>

Take up white water kayaking. Even if it's just for a month or two and even
if it's just Class II or III water. The only "practice" rolls I remember any
of my pals doing when we were on river was to cool off. Otherwise, the river
gives you lots of practice. The best way, I think, is to find a good club
with active white water paddlers who can be trusted to take newbies down
water that is safe enough. But, like many downhill skiers, there are w/w
kayakers who think it's a lot of fun to take a newbie down a chute that they
have no business being in. Caveat paddler.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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