C-Forum

I get a TON of people asking me to demonstrate a C1 back deck roll, so here's the video. People will disagree with me, but I assure you all that the back deck roll is absolutely doable in an OC and worth having in you quiver, especially for the smaller boats out there.

http://www.vimeo.com/13346427

for those of us that have absolutely no idea of what a back deck roll is ( may be just me?) I am sorry to say that it looks like a rather mysterious magical move on your vid

However, the first one I understand. It looks very much like the one I do.
Would you care to expand on set-up and as for why/how it would be another goodin' to have in one's quiver?

Cheers

yea MArk, from here it just "looks" like a roll

yeah... no worries... the c1 back deck roll is just like the kayak back deck roll... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frRYZI6VpIg

But instead of like a kayak back deck roll, the c1 back deck roll involves using the back side or non-power face of the blade.

Instead of tucking for a standard roll, throw your blade towards the back of your boat. That motion of throwing to the back, like you are trying to tap the very stern of your boat with the paddle blade will initiate a circular motion under the water which will flip you from your offside edge to your onside edge and allow you to reverse sweep roll up.

OK to break to down more.... a reverse sweep roll is when you flip to your onside and reach all the way back, rolling up on the non-power face of your blade, sweeping from the back of the boat to the front of the boat.

The C1 back deck is a flip to your offside, throwing your weight backwards, and while rotating under water (which will be natural as you try to set-up your onside), let your life jacket float you on the surface and keep your head as close to the surface as you can.

All these words probably make the move sound really difficult, but its not at all.

Have a kayaking friend or some random river dude demonstrate a backdeck roll for you. Then try it using the non-power face of your paddle when you flip to your offside.

I'll try to get a better video this weekend. I'll be up at the Black Sat/Sun and the Ottawa Mon/Tues

RE: why you should be able to do a back deck roll

Many might argue with me, but I contend that the fastest roll you do is the safest roll you can do. My back deck is nearly lightning fast. I dont often find myself flipping to my offside when my weight is over my body and forward. If/when i do flip with my weight forward, i tuck and throw a standard roll.

What i find is that most often i flip when i'm doing something stupid like boofing too hard and not tucking back forward or getting working in a hole or something. Usually i flip because my weight is too far back on the back or when getting worked in a hole, I am reaching deep with my paddle to pull myself to the green water.

So when my weight is back or in a weird position, it is easiest for me to try a backdeck roll, or a reverse sweep because my paddle is already laid back near my back deck. It saves the time and trouble of bringing you paddle to the bow of your boat, then sweeping out and rolling up.

I've also found that I can back deck roll quickly and safely in that crappy class I-II water that is shallow and full of rocks. I have never hit my face or head back deck rolling. If you've ever set-up for a traditional roll in 6" of water, hitting your head and your t-grip hand off rocks, you'll understand why a fast roll that keep you shallow in the water (the back deck) is so valuable.

Ta Marzack... a lot clearer.
Still struggling a bit but that's because I've never been in a yak!!
So I'll do what you say.
I'll experiment in my OC but my one concern is that it seems a lot of strain on shoulders. What says you?

Back deck roll is good to go in an OC, if you don't get all the way up you're positioned to get on your standard low brace and roll the rest of the way up off that...i've been using back deck alot in my playboat (Robson Blowfish)...it's probably a bit small for me, and the back deck is a great way to get back upright if you find yourself unexpectedly up on your bow...it's also fun to throw in the hole when surfing...

Tried it Mark...whilst I haven't been succesful yet I see the opportunities it will offer.
Interestingly a pal of mine, who is an ex C-ist and yak/guide raft, tried it and got it first go, first time in an OC and first time in my prelude.
He showed me that back deck roll and the more traditional one one after the next.
And it is very quick!
Also if you missed the first one, you're in the position to try the trad one.
Will keep trying as I think it will be mega useful.
Cheers for this matey.

Mark - If you could, can you get a video of you doing it on dry land. I can visualize what to do if I can see what your paddle is actually doing for the offside to onside edge flip.

As for the reverse sweep... got that down, and can come up rather easily with it. Just need to figure out how to flip the edge, and do it quickly.

I don't think the back deck roll exposes your shoulders at all, in fact I think its more natural and fluid than a traditional roll, because there is no "sweep out" which exposes yourself to a random rock blow. The entire roll is done pretty tight to the boat.

I will also try to get more video of the back deck motion.

I think of it (the motion to go underneath your boat) as essentially an underwater high brace motion over to your onside. It's really no different than the motion of going underneath your front deck.

If you can find it when you flip offside, start from your onside setup position and backtrack from there to see how to get under your stern.

Pat.

I rotate the back deck roll on my low brace, not high brace. I'm not saying it wouldnt work coming around on your high brace, then switching to a low brace. I use the low brace from the onset, which i think helps kick the boat around faster and keeps me shallower in the water and less exposed.

Hey Mark,
Just wonderin if you could post a video of the back deck roll using your Fly, and maybe in a swimming pool so we could see your tecknique more clearly. Just bought a Fly from Elijah Evans and working on my roll.

thanks

D-Caption

i use the power face for back deck roll in c1. i'll have to try it with backside of paddle.