The Kayak Forum is Sponsored By
|
|
|
| |
Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
The Great Rolling Technique Debate
Posted By: Jed In Response To: Re: A matter of opinion - lay back or to the side? (Greg Stamer)
Date: Friday, 8 September 2000, at 12:03 p.m.
Only a fool would disagree with Roger's post and Murray's and Nick's responses, IMO. But there are many differences between Maligiaq rolling his boat and my students rolling thier boats. Certainly there is the factor of the boat in question. 100% of my students use NA or British designed boats that bear little resemblance to Maligiaq's rolling machine. Some of my students use Greenland style paddles. But none of my students are 19 year old, flexible Greenlanders. Instead, I seem to draw the 40 to 50 year old, stiff backed, mangerial types that haven't kept themselves in the best physical condition.
As a group, my students tend to have very tight Hamstrings, so the chest-on-the-knees forward lean is nearly impossible for them perform. They have seen so many people finish rolls with a layback that they can't imagine a roll without one. My "students" boats often have seat backs rather than back bands aqnd high aft decks, so a usefull layback is nearly impossible. Additionaly, I find that most of my students sacrifice a full hip rotation for the percieved benefit of a mediocre layback.
As Murray had said a while back, we as instructors need to stay flexible with regard to our methods, in order to accomidate any limitations our students might have. While a layback or leanforward can be very advantageous, both require boats and flexability that work in harmony with these techniques. Many of my students, at first, illustrate a relative caucophony of dissonance rather than the harmony required for effective technique.
A final comment: A Greenlander rolls his boat differently than an American would roll a his (modern) boat. I have seen pictures and flim clips of Greenlanders raising their heads too early compared to modern rolling theory, and others than roll with out a hip snap at all. Yes, they still come up, but it is possible that our modern understanding of boimechanics has exceeded the Inuits' rolling model? This certainly is possible, however blasphemous it may sound. All this being said, there are many ways to right a boat. And most people will eventually find a method that suits their body/conditioning/boat/situation. What we are discussing is only a matter of how best to teach beginners to get them started on the right track in their rolling career.
For what is worth, the following is my idea of a perfect roll. This is the roll I aspire to and the roll that I teach my more gifted students. The more flexability-challenged students are taught something that is less demanding. Certainly you will all have differing opinions regarding the "perfect" roll. I only offer this as a potential frame of reference to my posts on this subject
After the capsize:
Push your paddle to the surface, try to clear the paddle from the water.
Pull your chest to the surface with a inverted crunch diagonally towards the same side the paddle is on.
Sweep (or move) the paddle out to 90°, stretching the paddle as far away from the boat as possible, while rotating the torso so that your shoulders are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat.
Partway through the Paddle sweep, start reversing the lateral flexation of the spine until the spine's flexation is completely reversed. (including the cervical portion of the spine)
Note: as you reverse the flexation of the spine your shoulders will tend to sink a little into the water. Your hold on the paddle will limit this effect as your arms are stretched between your torso and the paddle blade.
Stay in this position as the boat rights then as the rotation starts to stall, sweep the paddle forward towards the bow as you lean towards the fore deck.
Complete the forward sweep with a linked forward stroke on the same side as you sit back upright from the forward lean.
| |
Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
|
Kayaking Technique |
|
|
|
