A Different Kind of Day
Doug and I went out yesterday with me in one of his boats. It was hot, and the wind was still. We paddled out a ways and got about the business of rolling. When I roll a new (for me) boat, I use a Greenland stick because it allows me to roll slowly and get a feel for how the boat comes around. Well, it didn't feel good, and I thought I was working way too hard to carry off the roll. 
So I inserted my portable (closed cell foam) Masik which I carry and moved the pegs up a notch or two. It was no better. I realized that the problem (and I have found this in many of the newer boats) was that the braces were over my knees. That put all the force out at the end of a long level and made for hard work.
So, we moved the pegs further away to allow me to slide forward on the seat. A few ratchets of the back band and I had thigh braces. I felt locked in. I took my Euro blade and hit all my rolls. I had not thought about moving myself under the braces before although it now seems so obvious.
It was a different kind of day and well worth while. Paddle safe...
DS
7 comments:
Great post today, Dick! I'm not a very successful roller, but Cheri and Turner advocate the idea of scrunching forward in the cockpit as well. It does two things for me: makes laybacks easier; helps get one's body out perpendicular to the boat for balance bracing and, as you mention, increases the force required to right the boat and complete the roll. Cheers!
Exactly so, Michael. I need to pay attention to this next time I get out in one of my skin on frames.
moving forward is a great step in learning to hand roll. If I'm in an unfamiliar kayak or just having an off day I slide forward as far as I can which makes laying back and hand rolling fairly easy (once you know what you're doing) then work my way back once I realize what the issue was that has holding me up.
your pictures are incredible...as for rolling, i am not even sure i could attempt that. i am a huge chicken under water. but i love reading about your adventures and they allow me to imagine...
Thanks, Suzette. High praise coming from a "fellow" photag.
The portable masik sounds interesting.
Are layback rolls more efficient? They seem more forgiving. But what about forward recovery rolls?
Kenneth, I find the rolls that finish lying back much more easy to do than the forward finishing rolls. You would, of course, be talking about rolling with a Greenland stick. This gal was working with a Euro paddle. There, too, some find it easier to finish the modified sweep stroke with a lay back. See how Derrick and Michael got us off track ? :)
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