Learning to roll a sea kayak
This summer (2006) Rod was teaching a new (to us at least) method that allowed anyone with the basic idea of a support stroke to develop some sort of roll within a very short time scale. The method came to him from a New Zealand instructor who had worked with Rod last year.
Basic method
The basic method (some of which I have seen described elsewhere) is to learn the roll backwards - starting with recovery from a well supported (head out of water) position. Paddlers with no concept of a hip-flick will need to practice rotating the kayak with their hips, but there is no requirement for a flick as such - just concentrate on improving the sweep of the paddle.
Once the learner can complete a roll from the supported position,
the instructor gradually lowers the starting point (learner uses face mask or nose clips once the starting position is below the surface) for a 3/4 roll and later a 7/8 roll. Problems are normally easy to spot (head up too early, diving paddle, etc), and nearly always going back a stage or two enables easy correction.
At all stages in the learning process, the instructor guarantees that the roll will be successful - it is only 'who will do the work' that is at question. This becomes particularly important when the roll is no longer supported and the learner is completely submerged. By positioning himself at the bow, the instructor can ensure that the roll 'works' even when everything has gone wrong for the learner.
Is the roll any good?
I am sure many a white-water purist would hate it, but it serves the number one basic purpose of rolling - you get to breath again, and the technique is surprisingly effective even with a diving paddle or poor rotation.
(This roll worked despite the paddle)
It cannot quite save you from a 'happy head' though
(This roll gave the instructor some work)
Video Clip
How long does it take to learn?
The first unassisted roll can be seen as early as at the end of a 15 minute session, and by the third 15 minute session, many learners can manage three in a row. Most experienced paddlers and many completely new to the sport can produce a basic roll in two or three sessions.
How long does it take perfect the roll?
Obviously there is quite a long way to go from a basic roll from a setup position in a supportive environment to a reliable roll in high winds or surf (oh, and sometime you will want to learn the other side), but the forgiving nature of the technique is a great starting point.
Can the technique be used in the pool?
The technique translates well to the pool provided the water is shallow enough for the instructor to stand comfortably. We have used the pool at Plas Y Brenin, which was slightly deep for comfort (even in the shallow end), but had 100% rollers by the end of the session (2 hours in the pool, broken down into 15 minute lessons about 20 minutes apart).
Can the technique be used with white water kayaks?
So far we have only tried this with two learners, and yes it does work. The surprising thing is just how slowly the kayak comes up - does not look possible to those of us expecting to see a massive hip flick.
Video Clip (phone quality)