The Bathsheba Effect

Posted by derrick on January 30, 2006

And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. - 2 Samuel 11:2

As you know I’ve been hyperfocused on the reverse-sweep roll recently. I always have these things that I see others do that just seem freaking impossible. Over time I begin to fixate. It’s the "Bathsheba Effect". I can’t stop thinking about it, I have to get this damn roll!! Really though, "impossible", only seems impossible until I make an attempt. There is something about trying and failing that suddenly make the impossible seem more attainable. Failure is somehow inspiring. Isn’t that weird??

The reverse sweep has been like that for me. It’s been one of those things that once seemed un-obtainable, then lingered just out of my grasp, finally succeeding just enough to tease me. The kayak gods would grant me one nasty success and soon I’d lose it again, forgetting completely how I’d gotten there in the first place. Recently with the extra pool time the elusive roll has been showing some real gains. Yet, I was still feeling off balance. I was coming up, but I was working too hard. I could feel it.Then yesterday due to a bit of miscommunication that sent part of our party to one cove and the rest to another, I had some time to work one-on-one with a very talented Greenland roller from Racine named Paul. Paul has always impressed me with the simplicity of his explanations and unique visualizations that seem to work well for my brain. Paul was able to apply his unique imagery to my rough interpretation of the reverse sweep. With help I could re-focus. I would rest in a chest scull, internally reaching out to sense my body position. I changed my wet noodle torso position in to a tight back arch, looking up the paddle shaft to the silver-grey surface. I focused on my arms and sharpened my blade angle until it rose out of the water like a scimitar in Arthurian legend. Then mentally I reached back to my shoulders and let them scull the blade. My arms should transmit the motion, not create it. Just this simple focus on my shoulders forced body rotation into my scull and began to turn my hips. Already the boat wanted to come up. I just had to complete the rotation. Slowly I’d turn my hips with no thought to the blade, then as my hips brought the kayak around, my body curled from the arched back position inward into a slight crunch. Suddenly upright, I drew my now horizontal blade across my deck. I was stable and braced. The roll was smooth and simplistic. Nothing like my successes in the pool that often left me spent. In that moment with my head still tucked and the paddle blade under my nose, I felt that total rush of connection. The emotional pride in success over ones own weakness mixed with the sensuality of the water running down my forehead. I remembered why I do this! Kayaking is certainly one of those experiences where each mountain climbed lays before you a thousand other peaks. Heck sometimes you have to climb the same mountains again just to be sure you can still do it. For myself, each time I have some small success I find myself longing for the next. It’s an addiction. In the end, my obsession is to win Bathsheba without sending anyone off to die! - Thanks to Russ for the invitation. We’ll have to do it again. . .and all end up in the same place!!

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