C-Forum

flipped to the offside in a rocky rapid last wknd,
banged a few rocks - so couldn't pass under the boat
and roll- ended up bailing out instead.

What do most of the experienced rollers do in this
situation? Tuck and pass under the boat anyways despite the rocks?
Do an offside roll? In what position? Change paddle
position? Brace and roll on rocks?

Any comments would be helpful. I'm going to start
wearing elbow pads....
OC

I try to offside roll. But my offside roll is not bombproof.
I also once pressed off the ground to get over a rock but that was just reflex, not planned and might hurt in a lot of situations.

The best is to not roll in shallow stuff...because it is never enjoyable and
hurts most of the times.

I wear elbow pads as well. Especially on low volume stuff. Those creek gloves are nice as well. Some people even wear thes Mountainbike protector shirts with integrated shoulder and elbowpads.

There is a lifejacked from hydroscapes that has neck and kidney protectors...

Cheers, Jan

There have been a number of times (several of those in Gonzo Shoals on the Ocoee) when I got hung up on my off-side in the shallow stuff where I have been able to just push myself up by grabbing a handful of rock - not exactly a "hand roll", but I do go from upside down to right side up... If I had been able to sweep out to my on-side, I'd have risked ramming into a rock with my extended paddle, a move that has cost me at least one paddle.[/i]

I've had a couple of swims due to missed rolls in similar situations.

I have concerns with getting my body under the boat and onto the down stream side of the canoe on shallow rocky rivers. Also, I have concerns with getting my paddle broken or caught. There is a lot of force on the paddle if you are rolling up from the downstream side in a shallow rocky river.

Does one take the chance of getting your body between a rock and your boat (even if you are still in it), breaking a paddle, or lossing a paddle? I choose to bail out of my boat twice. Was this the best response?

if you have room and time to sweep the paddle horizontally whilst upside down this often moves the boat in a different direction..... and if all else fails... bail out.

I agree that I wouldn't mess too much with rolling in shallow places, I only have to read/envision that paddle sticking out ahead of me downstream and getting driven through me once.

But I'm not sure what you mean by "offside roll," can someone explain?

You flipped to your offside, but surely there's not "a roll stroke" that you actually do on your offside? For example, I'm trying to imagine staying upright by throwing an effective offside low brace, even if pushing off the bottom. Or do you guys do that?

What does it matter if you flip to your offside anyway? Or is that where the shallow-water part comes in, because you can't move your body across/under to set up on your onside?

Doesn't anybody switch their paddle hands/sides while downsideup and then do a roll on your former offside? Or again, is it just a problem with the rocky shallowness?

Pat.

Yarnell: yes, there is an off-side roll.

you sweep out to your off-side and do a sweeping brace and end up
with your paddle on your bow. In the set-up, your grip arm is almost behind your back. When you are done, you end up more or less ready for a cross forward stroke.
I know, it is hard to imagine, just try it. I fyou paddle right and are upside down, try to sweep out to your right instead to your left and roll
If this is useful or not can be argued about. I like to have it in my repertoire like a handroll. You almost never need it but if you can do it, it does not hurt.
2 weeks ago, a handroll saved me from swimming and being washed into the next drop. That was nice and saved trouble.
I would like to have a quick off-side roll but I still have to work on it to get it bombproof...

There is a time to bail but swimming is often very painfull. In general, I find It hard to say what is best because it depends so much on the situation.
I think it is always good to have differnt options....

Cheers, Jan