Canoe Roll

[AJ]

I know this is old hat for the pros out there, but by working with my paddle buds the last two Sundays in the pool, I have finally figured out the proper roll setup and technique.

I am jazzed, I can even roll my Skeeter, easily and quickly! I would like to share what I learned and to reinforce it in my mind. Please share back with me anything else to help.

I have learned and what worked for me was to get in position with my torso/head as close to the front of the boat as possible and by having the paddle on the offside/front gunwhale of the boat. I then slice the paddle blade tight across the bow with my body close to the boat at the same time. Before, I was hanging down below the boat to far trying to get me and the paddle to come around and up, which from my personal experience has not worked and is also very scary in the river.

The other key for me, was once over to my onside was to cut the paddle straight up to the top of the water by flexing my waist/upper body more towards the water surface (hard for an old dude like me), which really helped in getting my paddle face up and out of the water. Also, keeping the paddle shaft at a right angle to the boat seemed to really help. Then push down on the backface of the paddle and hip snap at pretty much the same time, while keeping my head down on the paddle shaft. Also, after starting the roll to slice the paddle towards the front of the boat and back to the top of the water as I came up seemed to help.

Thankfully, when I do go over it is usually in less threatening places at the end of a rapid, in a quiter spot between rapids, or in a fast differential eddie current, versus in the middle of the big stuff. With that said, I have had a few swims that banged me up because I got swept down into ugly stuff before swimming out. I hate it when that happens! If I can at least hit those type rolls to start with and at the park-n-play, I will be very happy with my progress this year.

I think I will always still be freaked out, if I go over in the middle of a fast, shallow rapid. And I will always hate being upside down in cold Colorado river water floating over rocks. However, I know if I excute the roll, I am out of the cold water sooner and I will be safer versus risking injury in self rescue/swimming, let alone my pride.

Now, I understand the mechanics, I need to force myself to do it on the river. This will not be easy for me, as I have missed my roll many times before and then things tend to get worse as the cold water is tiring, breathing tends to be more difficult, and there is less time to swim out before coming up on more stuff.

I need to experience how positioning in currents can help or hurt the roll and I need to practise it. I know it is hard to roll with your paddle upstream. Can anyone share with me the secrets on how to do that or how to get positioned with your paddle downstream?

Thanks!

[KNeal]

Very nice. Congratulations!

KNeal

[PAC]

Nice - I'm going to print out and hand off to a guy having some "issues" at roll class and have the boy read it. Paul C

[sbroam]

...Then push down on the backface of the paddle and hip snap at pretty much the same time, while keeping my head down on the paddle shaft. Also, after starting the roll to slice the paddle towards the front of the boat and back to the top of the water as I came up seemed to help.
....

Those are key parts to my roll!

...
I need to experience how positioning in currents can help or hurt the roll and I need to practise it. I know it is hard to roll with your paddle upstream. Can anyone share with me the secrets on how to do that or how to get positioned with your paddle downstream?

I find that it if I am floating along with current *at the same speed as the current*, it doesn't matter so much if I roll on the up or downstream side. If you try to roll immediately, say upon flipping while coming out of an eddy, rolling on the upstream side will matter as the current is going faster than you and will work to counter your roll - wait a few seconds until you begin to match the speed of the current and your relative speed approaches zero.

In a hole, an upstream roll will be nearly impossible as your disadvantage due to relative speed is never overcome!

Also, the better form your roll is and the stronger it is, the less relative speed matters - if you are strong from start to finish - using your hip snap primarily but also your paddle properly - you are stacking the deck in your favor. How do you get strong at rolling? Do it a lot! What's that saying, "practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect"?

Thanks!

Congratulations and good luck!

ps - I owe my roll to a Kent Ford video!

[ChrisKelly]

I agree with what Scott said about waiting a few seconds in currant so that the speed equalizes. I still think it is a bit harder on the upstream side. Maybe that is my perception but maybe during the process of rolling the boat slows down some.

I also found the Kent Ford video to be very helpful. It is SOLO PLAYBOATING.

now roll 1,000,000 tomes in the pool so that when the real thing occurs you are automatic.

I think practice makes permanent. If you practice right you will execute right.
Chris Kelly

[Open Gate]

now roll 1,000,000 tomes in the pool so that when the real thing occurs you are automatic.

Chris Kelly

So automatic that if I'm upside down in turbulent water, getting ''rocked'' and get a bit desoriented, I close my eyes (they're always open) and start my routine, as if I pressed an automatic button and everything just happens...that's my fail safe, back to basic mode. Starting with body position and mostly keeping my face in the water as long as the boat is not right side up !

Practice my friend practice and welcome to the rolling club !

[pmp]

Hi
We don't do the sweep to the bow anymore, it can be hard on the shoulder and isn't really neccesary. see pg 131 in Thrill of the Paddle
Paul

[ChrisKelly]

is not necessary. I usually come straight in with the paddle.

But, what sweeping to the bow or coming straight in does for the roller is it gives him a specific task which gets the body weight all the way back into the boat. I try to touch my nose on the opposite gunwale. This keeps my head down and keeps my weight moving into the boat.

Use whatever device works but get the weight in while your head is still looooowwwww.

Chris Kelly