Bl**dy Rolling

[DaveBland]

Here's something that hasn't been mentioned so far in this rolling thread...

Core strength. Super important for that last bit of the whole rolling part right up until and after you actually get upright again.

Once you are up and out of the water, the key is to get forward and paddling as fast as possible. The less gap there is the more stable and safe you are.

The amount of paddlers you see that roll up and the last bit is [quite understandably] a slow-motion, clear head / sit-up / adjust position in boat / ...and then think about paddling.
It's like the getting up bit is the end of the achievement. IT IS NOT.

Get up and get going. Worry about where you are going, clearing your head and everything else after you are moving.

...and back to the initial point - this is all way easier if you aren't struggling to get your weight forward because your core isn't quite as 'sit-uppy' as it could be.

[DaveBland]

why is that italic??

[gp.girl]

why is that italic??

Hmm bit strange that!

Kids do more than fine rolling and unless the instructors and coaches I've worked with are wrong they tend to have less core strength than adults? Certainly they spend most of their time paddling leaning back. Having said that mines rubbish as all those moves that involve core strength just hurt and totally fail to happen also most of the boat rescue stuff as that's all core strength based techniques.

There was actually a really good brace last night top hand down and finished sculled forward to get going again. Was self checking any bracing for one actually happening and two being nice to my shoulders and three actually working,

Believe me if you're this bad at it, it is :) also if it's me I may be taking a breather to calm down. Don't know about you but I really can't paddle with adrenaline present.

Anyway last night was mixed - roll crappy on the course OK on the flat, nerves variable but I've had a lot worse and even knowing that swimming was going to be likely at least there was some flailing around with the paddle before swimming. Played around with the outfitting, extra foam made it feel tippy for the first half hour and the happy feet won't inflate properly :( I did manage to paddle into the big playwave deliberately (1st time ever!!) stay up a while and stubbornly put a second entry in for worst successful roll.

[gp.girl]

Sometimes I can get it right so despite some crappy rolling and a day of avoiding turning over, rocks hurt, I did some practice rolling including one on the left!!! Another day of avoiding - I forgot the nose clip ;) the last day consisted of playboating at MEM and the head games got back under control. So surfing got followed by rolling and a flat spin or 2. Still don't like rocks to the head but at least I kept calm.

[DougR]

My favourite tool for making a beginner more comfortable underwater is a dive mask - not great in a real river but a huge win in a pool.

[gp.girl]

My favourite tool for making a beginner more comfortable underwater is a dive mask - not great in a real river but a huge win in a pool.

I'm just learnt to panic instead of rolling. Nose clip essential but weaning myself off it slowly. Currently rolling pretty well either falling over on waves or at Lee Valley. Another attempt river running and a few more second tries. Nothing successful yet but hey it's a start. Even managed to be the most successful roller in our group of 4 on the wave at MEM - now that was a bit of a shock! Much calmer underwater now :)

[gp.girl]

That's another one ticked off the list

2nd try and successful!!!

Also in a moment of total insanity I considered rolling on my left as that's the way I capsized - I've done 2 upright rolls on my left before :)

[on the rocks]

Hello, I've nipped over from the sea kayaking forum.

I've got a reasonably reliable rough water roll on my good (only side) but finding it impossible to get anywhere near an off-side roll, which would be very useful if waves or surf are coming at me from the wrong side. Despite pool sessions and trying to stretch/educate my muscle memory with a broomstick sat on my floor at home I can't get anywhere near an effective paddle sweep arc. My body doesn't want to move in the required way.

is there a trick of voodoo involved or is it just a matter of long term perseverance?

[frazerp]

If you have access to a pool session I’d suggest getting someone to guide your paddle blade a few times. Sometimes it is just getting your brain to ‘see’ the correct motion and then it all falls into place.

I’d also suggest using the opportunity to practice swapping sides if your offside roll doesn’t work. As well as being good practice even if you do fall in on your offside you know you can swap and this takes the pressure off the first roll.

[sean107]

Despite pool sessions and trying to stretch/educate my muscle memory with a broomstick sat on my floor at home I can't get anywhere near an effective paddle sweep arc. My body doesn't want to move in the required way.

my offside roll works sometimes ..

to get here I started getting the feel for a sweep by practicing just the offside sweep - then switching and rolling on my usual side.

I found focussing on just that part helpful - without worrying about getting up

I also worked on offside hip flicks holding a float

Then put the two bits together (I think I used a paddle float at first).

my timing is still a bit off, and my offside hipflick is noticably weaker than the one I've been working a lot longer...

But I can now roll on my offside - not brilliantly but it feels like a good start