C-Forum

While waiting for rain I have been working on my offside roll in the lake. Since I could not find a lot of info or any videos while trying to learn, I decide to post a short video of my progress in case anyone else is trying to learn as well.

To me, the offside roll seems more of a quick power move than the slow smooth motion of the onside roll. Also, the most awkward part is right at the end, when trying to get the paddle out of the water. I have found that sliding the paddle back, in a kind of cross low brace motion, right at the end, makes the roll less awkward and a little stronger.

I'm at about 95% in the lake now, and feel that it is getting a little smoother the more I practice. Still haven't tired one in a hole.

I welcome any comments or technique suggestions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adHrpKnyAgs

Matt

is that a 3M? what shaft is that?
cheers
-isaac

Very nice, smooth technique

But arent't you worried about your shoulder ??? I've always stayed away from off side rolls especially in a hole.

I'd rather do a one hand roll or swith blade side and save a joint.

Take care !

Sweet, I've only purposely tried one a couple of times in flat water.
I've thrown a few in the heat of the moment when I was about to get thrashed and REALLY REALLy didn't want to swim. Mine usually ends up in a bow squirt when in turbulent H2O.
Lookin good!
Shawn

I noticed the same as Open Gate when working on offside rolls in the pool, hard on my shoulders, they really hurt after a few rolls or tries. I have pretty much given up on them.
Anyone have some tips on how to minimize stress on shoulders during offside rolls?

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

I'm anxious to try a few- is it awkward positioning wise, to break the surface with the paddle blade if the paddle start position is below the surface?

thanks - this video is very helpful for my trys on the lake

Greetings Frank

Hi Isaac,

Yes it is a 3M blade with just a straight carbon fiber shaft. I got it from Davey Hearn and have loved it all year.

I think the one hand offside roll would be great, but I just can't do it. I can sometimes do one if I use the momentum of falling to my offside, but it is just not reliable for me.

With regard to the offside roll, from my experience, this roll can be done with out a lot of shoulder stress. My technique is as follows.

Start with your grip hand at your belly and your shaft hand at your forehead with the power face of the blade pointing away from you. Flip upside down. Turn your torso toward your offside and reach your blade to the surface of the water by flexing your torso. Now your body will be coiled and your paddle at the surface, ready to provide a little support. Now quickly roll the boat underneath you by uncoiling your body. The boat should be almost upright with your entire body and head in the water next to it. Try to use the momentum of the hip snap to slide your body and head back across the boat, staying as low as possible. Your paddle will be partially underwater and you must be able to cleanly pull it from the water without it hanging up. In the video I do this by slicing it out, but have since found that pulling it back in a cross low brace motion works better.

The above video was from earlier this summer, and I'll try to take another video soon showing the cross low brace finish.

Matt

Hi Matt,

So you know I can't do the one hand roll in flat water.

But in a hole, since most of the time your starting point is not levelled, your boat will be tilted upstream by the green water under the foam pile and the support you get form that hard water is enough for your downstream hand(free of the blade) not to dive in, I also throw my stick upstream for leverage and as long as my body position is real tight on the front deck, I find the boat almost turn on it's own.

My 2 cents,

Happy paddling !

Hi Open Gate,

Next friendly hole I see, I'll drop in offside and give it a try. Sounds like it would work.

Next time we are in Canada, we have to look you guys up and do some paddling. We spent a week at Madawaska Kanu Center a couple of summers ago and really loved it. We want to do their week of rivers, but I'm just not sure when we can make it up. Maybe next summer.

Matt

Hi again

We run the Laurentians creeks in QC(Awsome class III, IV, V), Hwy 7 runs in Ontario in the spring.

Try to hit Lac St-Jean QC every summer(800 meters mountains with so much rivers it's unsane) and the regular Ottawa, Gatineau and Rouge river which are runnable from april to late november every year.

All of these (we counted 40 sections of river and sure we missed a few) within 2 hours drive from our Nation's capital !

Don't hesitate to give us a buz when you're up here !


galu@videotron.ca

Open Gate wrote:Hi again

We run the Laurentians creeks in QC(Awsome class III, IV, V), Hwy 7 runs in Ontario in the spring.

Try to hit Lac St-Jean QC every summer(800 meters mountains with so much rivers it's unsane) and the regular Ottawa, Gatineau and Rouge river which are runnable from april to late november every year.

All of these (we counted 40 sections of river and sure we missed a few) within 2 hours drive from our Nation's capital !

Don't hesitate to give us a buz when you're up here !


galu@videotron.ca

Wow Open Gate, you must have a really fast car if you can make it from Ottawa to Lac St-Jean in 2 hours! ...

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

Ok OK,

It's the 40 sections of rivers that are within 2 hours, excluding Lac st-Jean... should have been more specific.

Saguenay - Lac St-Jean region probably has more then 40 runs on their own