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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Why my roll failed
Posted By: John Montgomery In Response To: Combining WW and Ocean technique (Jed)
Date: Thursday, 29 May 2003, at 1:44 a.m.
: Even if the first roll fails, after two solid sculls (the initial roll sweep
: and the return sweep) the paddler's body is nearly half-way up.Jed, I was wondering when someone was going to bring up this point and you finally smoked me out. Like most paddlers, my roll has failed me for almost every individual reason listed in The Bombproof Roll and Beyond. Diving paddles, pulling my head, weak hip-snap, etc., etc., etc. As you build up experience rolling, you can usually figure out what you did wrong on the first attempt and correct it on the second.
Two weeks before this surf trip, I spent a day doing rescue practice in rough conditions with another paddler. As usual, this included a lot of rolling, not just paddle-float self rescues, assisted rescues and the like. During this practice session, my roll failed me a couple times due to a diving paddle. Of course, when your paddle dives your body never breaks the surface of the water, not even partially. You just stay 100% inverted.
I'm not sure, but I believe that is what happened when I was in the surf last weekend. I should have figured it out immediately after the first failure but I didn't stop to concentrate on what I was doing. I think my prior frustration with getting thrashed four times in a row had something to do with that. Having a bombproof roll is more about mental toughness (maybe clarity is a better word) than physical strength. When I went to roll after getting beat up, my mind was filled with frustration, not clarity.
In regard to sculling, I have finished my roll with a scull on several occassions in the past, though I have to say it usually isn't necessary to do this if my roll technique was clean and smooth. If that's the case, I come up strong, steady, and ready to throw out any stroke that is called for.
Finally, I'd like to offer a recent observation, (not an excuse.) Here it is: I have more problems with my roll (almost always a diving paddle) when I'm wearing my old dry suit than when I'm wearing any other paddling clothing. Why? Well, I bought the full Kokotat Gore-Tex Meridian dry suit (with all the bells and whistles) in 1998. At the time, they were using a very heavy fabric which is about as stiff as Cordura pack cloth. When I wear this suit (which is only during rescue practice anymore, as I can't stand to put it on unless I really need the protection) I feel extremely constricted. I can roll, yes, but my technique has to be perfect. Or at least that's the way it seems. The suit just feels like it's restricting my movement.
On the surf trip, I finally decided to wear my dry suit on the third day because I didn't want to climb into a cold, wet wetsuit that morning. I probably rolled over 20 times in the two hours before my mishap, so obviously, my feeling of constriction is more mental than anything. But it's there, in the back of my mind.
To be honest, I really don't feel like throwing down ANOTHER big chunk of money to buy ANOTHER dry suit, but maybe that's what's needed. (As you know, the newer suits are made of much more supple fabric.) Better to pay for a new suit than a funeral, I suppose. (Again, I offer this as an observation, not an excuse.) John
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