My first attempts at learning a kayak roll!

So yesterday I was off to Rutabaga to do a little traditional rolling instruction. I’m not sure why, but in the southern part of the state it seems like traditional rolling is very slow to catch on. Not like up north or in Michigan for that matter where there is a fire in the sport. I would think that has to change in time. This part of the state is 2 hours from big water and is a land filled with lakes. prefect for future champion rollers. I think as instructors we need a way to incorporate traditional rolling into kids classes. Something to think about for the future. IF someone starts making decent gear for young people!! Oh well, one class at a time.

So one thing I was thinking about yesterday was learning styles. In both the ACA and BCU they have terms for ways of leaning. Different terms, but they describe the same thing. Some people learn by just jumping in and doing, some have to think and understand every little detail, some need to see demonstrations to help them visualize, and so forth. I’m a thinker type. Probably why it took me so long to learn my first roll. I would want to understand every little nuance of what I was trying to do. I would go upside down and meticulously try to do each step according the book, or description I was given by the coach. Of course, that really never worked. If you over think a roll, you don’t roll. Your motions are too rigid and if you focus on one bit, you tend to blow something else. It’s challenging for thinker types to learn a roll which for the most part, is sort of impulsive and flowing. In fact with people who do tend to over think, this is probably the one place learning a C2C roll works well. It’s rigid formula is right up the street for analytical learners. Step 1. set up, step 2. sweep, 3 hipsnap. . . . sure most other rolls are that way too, but the depend much more on fluid actions, whereas a c2c you can almost just put them together in a stunted fashion and roll.

If you’re off trying to learn a roll by yourself here are a couple things that helped me.

1. you can roll without a skirt. It’s slower when your cockpit is full of water, but it’s not any different. So if you are alone this makes it much easier to fall out and get back in and do it again. No need to waste time dragging the kayak back and dumping it every time.

2. Use a paddle float on your outer blade. The buoyancy will help you keep the blade to the surface. However, it can also make you rely on it and you tend to want to pull yourself up. Don’t do use it for too long, just until you are comfortable with the feel of keeping the blade on the surface.

3. lay back rolls are easier. If you keep coming up and then falling back over. . . you are probably not doing that “head dink” thing. But if you lay back, you will lower your center of gravity and the head dink becomes less important. However, if you want to learn a normal sweep or c2c. then keep your ear pinned to your shoulder. I used to just bite on my shirt to force myself to keep my head down.

4. work on your balance. I’ve had students who are doing everything right but they are uncomfortable on their back decks, wobble and fall over. Ok then. Take time to lay back on your deck and scull for support. Close you eyes, relax and scull or brace if you are going over. Then do this on the back deck and out of your cockpit. Let your feet dangle. Keep doing this until you could take a nap on the back deck. When you reach this comfort zone, you will have no problem when you roll up onto your back deck. The wobbles will go away.

5. practice in your yard. Sit in your kayak, then wiggle it over on it’s side. Then sweep and hipsnap. Don’t knock it, it helps.

Anyway, just some thoughts. . .

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