Wow, thank you, that’s really generous of you. I’m not sure it will fit, but you never know.
Thanks for the other info. I’m planning to bring my new/used SOF, and being able to borrow some gear I’m sure will be desirable. I’m hoping to participate in some beginning rolling practice, but I might be too novice still.
I made a separate post about wetsuits, so maybe I’ll get some additional input. Thanks again!
In my experience, the coaches are very welcoming to newcomers to Greenland technique and the stages of instruction start on dry land with practice in an SOF on the ground so you can be shown the body positions for balance bracing and recovery and practice the arm movements with the paddle. They also have a pool for the initial practice. Per the checklist on the event site, bring swim goggles and a noseclip for rolling training.
When I have wanted to use Antler for a project, I get it from the source. So I’m not sure where to source it otherwise. I live in the woods and have hunted for many many years.
Many people just carve wood to make them, some use fake bone. The best would probably be jaw bone from a Right Whale…I know that is preferred for the tips and edges of a Greenland Paddle. {something about density etc} Sorry…not much help…
Rolling is Not an advanced skill. Rolling is an entry level skill. Just go for it… open your mind and just listen and do. AND relax, it will be easier.
Ear plugs {along with nose plugs} are good to have. They allow you to be more comfortable and spend more time with your head in the water. The center of balance is your inner ear. Rolling fast doesn’t allow the water in…but also doesn’t allow perfecting the roll or rolls. Learn to roll slow.
It is very rewarding to help a person find the secret handshake to rolling their kayak.
Go slow and enjoy the journey.
Best Wishes
Roy
Thanks – I’d love to “harvest” the antlers of the young bucks that browse off my perennials and leave ticks in my semi-urban yard but have never known them to shed on my property. Don’t know any hunters at the moment.
But I do see there are plenty of folks on Ebay that sell scraps of deer, elk and moose antler fairly cheaply so I will try that option.
Should have saved some of the elk antlers (and skulls) that we used to find around my ex boyfriend’s woods in northern PA – we have a well established transplanted elk population up there (around 1400 as of this year) and they were nearly as common as white tails in his pastures and even in the back yard.
Everything is always easier if you relax… but relaxing itself is sometimes hard! But thanks for the encouragement, I would love to learn to roll.
Find a good rolling instructor, follow his/her instructions as best you can, practice, video & review, practice, video & review, practice, video & review, etc.
Rolling is not really hard…getting your body to do what you think it is doing is the challenging part.
Thanks, good advice!
Actually I forgot to mention that I have done a re-entry and roll with a paddle float on my Euro paddle. I’m sure the paddle float makes it way easier, but the hardest part was getting into the cockpit when it was upside down. So I guess I’m not a 100% newb… 
You will be fine!
Thanks! 
I am 3 parts excited and 1 part nervous!