Invitation Still Stands
Fire me off a note or post something here when the weather warms up. I’ll be glad to share what I’ve learned. We can go to a lake or (an outdoor) pool or both.
I got my first rolls in that “Pyramids” place in Greensboro. It is fancy schmancy. I was surprised they let people like me in the door.
.
“For some reason, my sister seems extremely adverse to doing any type of pool sessions; when I said I thought I’d be more comfortable learning in a pool, she said that it would be “better to learn in a lake where you aren’t as comfortable.” That “logic” confused me a bit and I couldn’t formulate an response that wouldn’t make her mad… I’ll broach the subject again later.”
Why don’t you do it yourself?
“…where you aren’t as comfortable.”
– Last Updated: Dec-30-09 12:26 PM EST –
Sort of the same as hitting someone every time they fail. Some believe in negative reinforcement. Others believe that the more supportive and comfortable the environment the better you will learn.
I learn better when comfortable. Rolling is counter-intuitive enough without adding unnecessary concerns.
For many, pool sessions are among the best environments for learning to roll.
perhaps
have her contact and talk with the next potential rolling/rescue instructor?
I always put the person who has concerns with the person who is doing the trip or class.
Next month we are having a pool session that is just on rescues that six people have already registered.
For beginner group trips you would want some kind of self rescue. For more advanced trips you would want to be capable of as many rescues as possible. Rolling is just one form of self rescue.
I have noticed that people usually discredit whatever they haven’t done or can’t execute. If they haven’t taken classes, classes aren’t necessary. If they can’t do a paddle float rescue, that’s not a good rescue.
If someone switched times or location, I would say forget it, and find someone else.
I will say that rolling and rescues are something you want to practice a lot. I would say at least check it out. Maybe it will be a good place to practice and get ready for Spring.
Have fun!
re: perhaps
She actually did call them and talk to them early in the process; I’m not sure how interested she really was to start with, but she pretty much counted it out as soon as she confirmed that they would be using whitewater boats.
Another outfitter is offering occasional pool sessions at a closer location, but it doesn’t seem to be oriented around organized classes or training - and at $5 per Sunday afternoon session, I wouldn’t really expect it to be!
Hope that
– Last Updated: Dec-30-09 10:17 AM EST –
works out for you. I was responding to your concerns which I think are valid. In a practice pool session you should already be comfortable with a wet exit and swimming. I think the highest risk is starting off. But that's a good way to check it out and maybe someone will be there who can help you out?
"* My sister is scared of the WW boats - she can't really swim and is afraid she'd be trapped in a tight boat. She has a sit-on-top kayak, but she said she might be interested in a rolling class w/ longer kayaks if it was held in a lake in warmer weather. That makes no sense to me; I tried to point out the advantages of being in a more controlled setting with clear water, but I couldn't get her to see the logic.
I'm a bit afraid of going upside down under water myself - that's the big reason I'm considering getting instruction instead of learning on my own."
re: Hope that
I’m not sure which posting you’re responding to… I’m not planning on going to one of the $5 pool sessions right now unless it is to just practice “non-roll” rescues. One thing about those sessions that is on the “pro” side for practicing self-rescues it that they don’t supply the boats, so I’d be practicing with my kayak instead of one with different characteristics; of course, one of the “cons” is that I’d have to get all of the sand out of mine (this has proved to be much more difficult than I thought it would be) before they’d let me put in the pool. And having to carry my kayak thru the Y to get to the pool!
looks like
that might be a good option for you… getting out there and practicing is important… I almost always suggest some kind of lesson when starting out in kayaking…
It really all depends on what you want to accomplish. Nothing wrong with a SOT either.
I know some people don’t like the foam in between their legs in WW kayak. But, still, they should be confident enough to wet exit in one, if they will be using a SINK.
Just do what you think is best.
We supplied either a ww or sea kayak, and even suggested they could bring their own as long as it was clean.
Jeffs Sis
Okay everybody, I’m Jeffs sister. It has taken me years to get Jeff to do anything in the water. I asked him and my other brother years ago if they would got rafting (whitewater with several people in the raft) with me and the and the answer was no. He works a M thru F job and I work a 12 hour night shift rotating nights job. If the weather is pretty I’m thinking about yakking. As far as watching out for each other, the time I flipped out I was turning to watch him because he flips out so much. Then I hard a hard time getting back on my SOT because he kept rushing me and trying to tell me how to do it instead of letting me handle it. I haven’t worried that much about rolling because I can’t get him in the water as much as I’d like to. I’m as stubborn and hard headed as he is and when I make up my mind to do something I get it done. He needs to quit thinking about it so much and just do it. You can’t plan everything down to the last t. Things happen. We started yakking this year May or June and I was under the impression it would be on the local rivers and lakes. Jeff couldn’t get over me getting the SOT. I’m up for a challenge but I also know my limitations. Yes I’m older than Jeff but I’m also more physically active and no I haven’t let that stop me from yakking when I’ve had the chance. Yes I’m middle age and not in the shape I used to be. I got the yak I wanted that suits me and he got a yak that he wanted. I feel he should have gotten something different due to his age and size and then once he got really used to yakking and more comfortable in any kind of water he could have moved into something like he’s got now. I’ve enjoyed reading everybody’s comments and suggestions and finally had to write my own comments. I’m going to eat supper with Jeff tonight and after he see’s my reply I may not be able to write another one. So I’ve enjoyed the exchange!!! Signing of now, Jeff’s older, more active Sister, Kathy.
Me sis…
Yak, yak, yak! All that yakking from me sis, but no rebuttals to anything I wrote! 
Jeff’s older, more active Sister, Kathy.
Having someone to paddle with is a great plus. I hope you two have a very nice dinner and agree to continue paddling together. Don’t be sniping at each other 
BTW, many of us on this thread and board are not youngsters. So being middle aged and not in as great of shape as some of the young ones is very common here.
I’m Middle Aged
if I live to be 108.
haha
Nice to hear from Kathy. That’s about what I figured. Jeff said you go out a lot with friends.
Our paddle club has a lot of one star trips where any paddle craft is acceptable. I enjoy doing these in the Spring.
This trip was on March 9th.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=709978079209:31536407
Otherwise the SOT can actually be difficult to get back up on top of because it’s higher off the water. One technique is to use a paddle float and hook your foot over, but that works better with a SINK.
Yeah, I was kind of thinking too bad that one class got moved or Jeff would have been out there.
Most of the time people say to have someone there with you when you in the water when you first practice.
I know everyone is pulling for you guys! Over a hundred post!
112
Thanks some more!
It looks like we’ll be going to Roatan in Honduras in March for a kayaking vacation with Uncommon Adventures! I’ll have to admit that Kathy did most of the leg work on setting up this trip (Of course, she’s been on vacation all week while I’ve been staggering off to work!), but I did most of the leg work on out previous training sessions!
She’s talked and e-mailed w/ Michael Gray with Uncommon and he’s comfortable dealing with our skill (?) level and is prepared to help us with our rescues and rolling.
I’m going to keep an eye out for more pool sessions in a more convenient location in case something comes up pre-March.
Kayak Roll
Let me preface it with “I am really is not expeienced that much and can’t do a roll”. Where we kayaking, Long Island sound ability to roll is nice and I would try to learn it soon. As for a skirt, somebody mentioned that they don’t want it without knowing how to roll, skirt provides a very valuable function of not letting water in due to the waves, on top of it couple of times I didn’t use skirt on the river and ended up with a painful sun birns to the legs. So from now on “sun shade” skirt is mandatory. Ability to pull out skirt under water is not that hard and while it may be scary as “I am under water up side down and pinned by my skirt” it is not that dificult and adrenaline at that time will aid.
Jeffs Sis once more
Hey guys! We had a good supper and good chuckle over all this. My whole family is known for their sense of humor so I took this like most things from Jeff as good ribbing. And even though he’ll smack me for posting this I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. When the weather is warmer we’ll do a float and invite everybody. If we do a river maybe ya’ll see both of us flip out, see how we handle it and give us some more good advice. Michael from Uncommon said he’d work with us on the roll. Now I’ll ask that all of you encourage my brother to kayak as much as possible so I can get him out there more. Jeff says he does most of the “leg work”. I let him do that so he thinks he has more invested and will paddle more with me. Plus he’s the computer nerd, I on the other hand would rather be outside kayaking or shooting pictures. I like exploring new places and Jeff is more hesitant unless we have someone thats been there before. I want him to stay interested, I do a lot of things by myself and right now I don’t want to kayak by myself.
"kayak as much as possible"
Very wise advice that most I know would support!
Rolling class
Take the class.
Once you learn how to roll, it’s easy to transfet to the sea kayak. It feels slightly different, but if you can roll one, you can roll the other.
When attempting to learn to roll, most people think they are prevented from rolling because of “too fat”, not limber enough", “wrong kayak”, “not strong enough”, and lots of other problems.
In reality, rolling has almost nothing to do with any of these thins. It’s all technique. I’ve watched people break a paddle when trying to roll. Done properly, there is very little stress on the paddle.
There are lots of paddlers that have learned on their own, but it’s much easier if you have some competent instruction.