handroll is more than a party trick
I was in a situation recently where a handroll came into play. Practicing a rescue in a reversing falls/tidal race area, I was in the water, and rescuer/instructor, having stowed his paddle, was reaching out to grab my boat, just when the current suddenly swung the boat out of his reach, and having already “committed” to my boat, he capsized. So, with one paddler swimming and he being upside down and with no paddle, he attempted and failed three or four handrolls,(like Dirty Harry: “to be honest, in all this excitement I lost count myself .”) and rolled up on his fourth or fifth try. So I can now report:
handrolls are more than a party trick. they apply to real paddling situations.
Uh, Oxymoronic…
– Last Updated: Jun-25-07 6:07 AM EST –
a "real hand roll" in a "rescue practice" session in reversing fall/tidal race (yeah, moving water, really can complicate things... Not really... ;) ).
If the situation had some real dire consequences, reach for the darn stowed away paddle and come up ready to do what one has to.
My thinking is that if you come up with a handroll in rough conditions and left without a paddle, you're still pretty much screwed. If you have a paddle stowed away and reachable, go for that and roll. Why mess around?
Nevertheless, being able to do hand rolls consistently is not a "trick" per se. As already pointed out above, if one has a consistent handroll, it implies pretty ingrained rolling mechanics and mental calmness that contribute to greater likelihood of being able to roll with a paddle in a situation where there are consequences to a failed roll.
sing
Family of engineers
– Last Updated: Jun-25-07 7:57 AM EST –
My father, my brother (tho' he tried to evade it but it was for naught) - my uncle was a break because he was a CPA. And mom had a chem degree and was particuarly solid in chem lab.
If I had a bunch of lawyers in the family instead I would be more than happy to make cracks about them, but I have to go on personal experience.
;-)
BTW - I know of one extremely good WW paddler who does have a hand roll in even class 4 conditions, at least in her own play boat. Granted she swam a couple of times in Costa Rica class 5 using a new-to-her creeker. But the hand roll is a real backup for her, to at least get up to air so she can figure out what to do from there.
spare paddles vs. hand rolling
Some paddlers stow their spare paddle on the back deck, so it’s not immediately accessable. In the situation i described, I don’t know where the rescuers paddle was,it probably swung out of reach in the current or he was so good at hand rolling that doing so was a better bet than pulling the (Euro) blade out from whatever rigging it was jammed in.
I like to use a Greenland stick as a spare paddle, stowed on the front deck, for the reasons you described. It’s accessable, can be whipped out (it’s in one piece, no assembly, doesn’t snag on deck rigging) if one’s paddle is not there for whatever reason. Have never had to do this in a real situation, but practice going to the spare paddle while upside down in pool sessions.
Practice It…
– Last Updated: Jun-25-07 9:57 AM EST –
accessing spare TAP Euro from the back deck and rolling up with it. It's not big deal except reaching back and spending maybe an extra 5 seconds. It's better to come up with a half paddle than to come up with bare hands in breaking waves. That half a paddle is still way more effective for bracing and moving than bare hands. You can easily find out your self by going out into the break zone on a three foot day and hand your paddle to a partner. You'll find out, even in that otherwise mellow situation, how challenged you would be without a paddle in hand.
If you carry a spare storm, that's even better. When I stow (I a sure your bud did too) the main paddle to do a rescue, it's tucked into the front deck lines where it's eminently accessible. Me thinks buddy wanted to show you his handroll. Could afford to do it because it was PRACTICE.
sing