Like driving without reverse?
Computing with no UNDO? (or Typing without backspace or correction ribbon/fluid for you old farts).
Watching TV with no remote?
Isn’t that a given?
You’ve screwed up. Now what? Are you going to execute an eskimo roll in less than three seconds and be on to Plan B, or are you going to wet exit and spend valuable time and energy trying to get back in the kayak while possibly drifting more into harms way?( not to mention the ever possible “yardsale”). The choice is yours.
“roll is not needed” crowd
"Its a trick"
“It won’t help you if…”
“I’ve been paddling X years and am fine without”
Anyone who gives mental ammunition not to bother to people who are aprehensive, but would have learned with different advice and paddling friends…
Rather
if you have a good roll, you won’t need to use it.
No
– Last Updated: May-15-06 6:31 PM EST –
So, what's the big deal? You capsize, you roll up.
Rolling is concidered fairly routine in white water. There's no reason it can't be concidered routine in sea kayaking (and I know a fair number of sea kayakers who do see it as routine).
sounds nice but…
At some time in some conditions everyone who paddles big water capsizes.
You talkin’ to me?
– Last Updated: May-15-06 6:41 PM EST –
"In fact", there is ample, overwheming data, experience, whatever that leaves no doubt that rolling is not "necessary" for sea kayaking. To say otherwise is denying reality.
On the other hand, if you spend a fair amount of in a sea kayak, why not learn to roll? It is not (for many people) a big deal to learn and there are many benefits to learning to roll.
Instrument flying, then?
No/Yes
"Like driving without reverse?"
No. You wouldn’t drive very long without needing to use reverse. Many people kayak for years without “needing” to roll.
“Watching TV with no remote?”
Yes. Many people watched TV for years without a remote. A remote is not necessary to watch TV.
Websurfing w/no “back” button?
My Real Point Was…
non-yakers who ask questions about boats on a vehicle have heard of a roll and probably seen one on tv or somewhere. They likely have never heard of a brace which is, in my opinion, a VERY important skill.
Some friends and I took roll lessons a couple of winters ago and the brace wasn’t even touched on. I think that’s ridiculous.
Odd situation
"Very few good rollers don’t have good braces compared to someone who can’t roll."
I think it’s fairly common for WW kayakers who are proficient at rolling to roll when they could have braced.
It does make more sense to brace to avoid a roll (it’s faster and keeps your head away from the rocks).
I get along pretty well without turning
left on an unprotected green. I just make 3 right turns.
Skydiving w/out back-up chute
"The world did not stop while I learned"
I find that very, very hard to believe.
Well…
If they are white water playboaters, then the roll could be part of the move.
But, I don’t have the same sense that white water boaters can’t brace. In my experience, at least up around these parts, white water boaters, in larger numbers than long boaters, can both brace and roll. Both these skills get used and tested way more for white water boaters every time they go out on a river run. Not the same can be said for all long boaters.
sing
two types of paddlers…
Eric Jackson notes in his bracing and rolling video that there are two types of paddlers: those who start to feel themselves going over and immediately start going into a set up position, and those who react with a brace.
I do think it’s true that some people work all on their roll and don’t practice bracing (at least that’s what I see at the pool - not a whole lot of bracing practice). I had been practicing bracing, but recently started taking that to a new level, and now I’ve had a couple instances on the river where I was able to throw out a brace instead of just resigning to roll.
I hope to become a paddler who can go for the brace and not just start folding into set up position before I’m even upside down…
This is all very interesting - - but!!
As I see it, I’m gonna need to learn to roll sooner or later. Now in my case, I’ve got a whole 2 hours on the water with a sea kayak. I expect I 'm gonna do at least a hundred hours on the water BEFORE I even attempt to learn this skill. With the way my schedule is, and the distance from any other kayakers in the area, it’s most likely gonna be a skill I learn in someones farm pond first, Then on an inland lake. If I hit Erie, it’s not gonna be in big waves for a long time.
My preffered plan is not to get into a position where I have to wet exit in the first place.
…you forgot one…
…thats the paddler who tenses up, gets a look of terror on their face, and then reaches for their spray skirt grab loop even before they hit the water!!
(no, not me…)
Scott
I’ve
never rolled a boat in a pool…not because it wouldn’t be nice, but because I don’t have access to one without a long drive and a late night…I roll in Lake Superior or one of the close by inland lakes depending on the water temps. Lake Superior doesn’t freeze up like the inland lakes do so I can practice a bit longer…When it gets down into the middle 30’s it hurts my eyes to roll so I usually stop for the winter. Because of having to quite for the winter and the amount of paddling I do in the summer, my roll list is short. but effective…and when I only have a few hours some days I go rolling. I usually roll for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before I’m tired…might be able to go longer if I was able to Balance Brace better…but I usually don’t practice BB …rolling is like doing ti Chi forms and is very relaxing for me
Best Wishes
Roy