I never capsize properly

[elliott92]

hi bit of an odd one really

I'm a fairly competent and will happily paddle grade 4

now the problem I have is that when I do have to role I capsize and it as though my boat is siting on an edge, which makes rolling really tricky sometimes if it doesn't sort itself out, and results in quite a few swims, and its not like I can't roll if I'm sat completely upside down its not a problem

any any ideas about why this happens and what I can do to fix it

cheers

[Rdscott]

try tuckingup giving it afew seconds 1 or 2 then try

[dbarron]

If your not all the way over !
Just do a high brace I guess or support stroke

[clarky999]

Pull down a little with your paddle before the roll, will level the boat off.

[daverice]

What sort of boat are you paddling? And which side do you set up? I've seen this happen quite a lot when someone sets up on the same side as they're capsizing (i.e. paddle on the right if dropping the right-hand edge), especially in boats with a lot of secondary stability. Changing sides (while underwater) if you feel like you're stuck in an "edge stall" should also flatten the boat out...

[Ollie5]

I had the same problem with a perception supersport, as soon as I changed boat it stopped, air in your drysuit doesnt help either as it hangs around your arms as your going over.

[mattdennies]

You may find it is your B.A trying to pull you up to the surface but if your body is tucked up under the cockpit and is out over the boat then you will be unable to set up for a roll.

Only way is to force yourself into that centre position underneath the cockpit.

[Cha0sSt0rm]

I've found that if I capsize really 'lazily' like the river just pushes me over slowly and I don't brace soon enough the B.A. 'catches' on the water surface and the boat ends up on edge. I've found just hipflicking down into the water over comes the bouyancy of the B.A. and lets me set up properly for a roll.

If the water flips me really fast or I've just resurfaced from a drop then the B.A> doesn't 'catch'.

[David Fairweather]

How good are your hip pads?

[DaveBland]

"I never capsize properly" I wish!

Generally it's easiest to roll on the downstream side. Sounds like maybe you need to switch the side you're rolling on when this happens - if you are trying to go right under and up the other side against the current.

Either that or tuck up tighter.
Or, if you know you are going to flip, rather than fighting it, actively dive into it and punch yourself round into position.

Good luck.

[elliott92]

thanks everyone

yeh for example if I capsize in the middle of a major rapid or while playboating its generally fine,its just when maybe I get caught unaware by something, which is why its so annoying because u end up swimming in stupid places.

thanks for the tips, hope they'll help

[SimonMW]

I used to have this problem, then it went away. Now it happens more often again. While it does cause some hilarity for the people I am paddling with as I capsize in a hole and end up side surfing with my head as the planing surface, it can be frustrating. Especially as it is so disorientating it is hard to know if I have actually gone over or not, causing much needed air to run out if stuck in a feature. Seems to be the boat. Some boats I have the problem with, others I don't.

I just find I sometimes have to hip flick to complete the capsize as others have said they do.

[morsey]

The simple solution to your problem is to swap the side you are trying to roll on. Learning the feeling of your body position in the water, and feeling the direction the water is pressing against you when upside down is key to deciding which side you roll.

What tends to happen when you swap sides on flat water is that your body then settles deeper, so it might feel that you want to swap sides again. Stay relaxed and try one side, then swap and try the other side, and if needs be, switch back to the original side and try again. In recirculating convoluted holes, boils and eddy lines, being able to swap sides is high on the list of things that will help you stay in your boat. Don't worry if you feel you off side roll is weak, practise it as much as you can, but remember that when you really need to roll offside the current/wave will be with you, not against you, making it a bit easier to get up.

[Andy H]

I have seen this a few times with studants I have coached in the past and the main reason has been that there boyancy aid has been too big for them and they are paddling flat hulled boats with steep sides (squared shape) and find there bodyweight is not enough to rotate the boat fully over easily therefore it sits on the side.

Look at your boyancy aid and check its the correct KN for your weight.

And as some have allready suggested

If paddling with a drysuit make sure you let the air out your neck seal.

Make sure your connectivity in the boat is tight.

If using a back deck roll maybe change it to a screw or C to C so you tuck when going over.

Cheers Andy

[sshearing228]

We had this with one person at our club and we found that all they needed to do was to let the boat level out before they tried their roll, in other words don't over complicate it but just slow the whole process down before you set up and allow yourself to go under before any attempts of rolling, and as others have said, check, your BA. Try some drills where you just hang upside down for a full 10 seconds before you start your roll.

[-Ginge-]

This all sounds terribly useful advice but why don't you just work on paddling technique so you find yourself going over less or not at all. If you don't go over it wont be a problem.

[Barny P]

This all sounds terribly useful advice but why don't you just work on paddling technique so you find yourself going over less or not at all. If you don't go over it wont be a problem.

Ouch, that really came back to bite you!

[Kembler]

-Ginge- wrote:
This all sounds terribly useful advice but why don't you just work on paddling technique so you find yourself going over less or not at all. If you don't go over it wont be a problem.


Ouch, that really came back to bite you!

Maybe in future turn your gopro mount into stabalizers..

[-Ginge-]

-Ginge- wrote:
This all sounds terribly useful advice but why don't you just work on paddling technique so you find yourself going over less or not at all. If you don't go over it wont be a problem.


Ouch, that really came back to bite you!

Maybe in future turn your gopro mount into stabalizers..

A it wasn't mine, B Ive just bought some sponsons.