Roll Baby Roll!

Since August 18 I have been trying to roll the kayak.

I did it today!

Today I practiced performing the hip flick.
And that is the secret ... the shortcut ... the magic.
Don't practice rolling the kayak ... practice doing a somewhat decent hip flick.
And that is how I rolled the kayak.
Now doing a first roll in less than 60 days after the first attempt is not bad ... actually that is pretty good.
But concentrating on doing the hip flick would have made it happen sooner.

So now, I need to do a hundred rolls. Then they'll be good every time.

I also wore the drysuit for the first time today.
It takes rolling practice to a whole new level to be dry and warm while on the lake.

The drysuit is the Kokatat GMER.

It cost me just over a thousand dollars including tax. Dry & warm is worth a thousand dollars in itself.
This suit though has just increased my paddling season from 3-4 months to 7-8 months.
It effectively increases the value of the money I spent this year on kayaking equipment and courses.

I am pleased that the first time I wore the suit was also the first time I rolled the kayak, somewhere around my 52nd or 58th try!

And therein lies the paradox of learning to roll the kayak:
By the time one finally rolls it, one has perfected a number of alternate self-rescue's.

The water temperature was 15C/59F and not one bit of a cramp.

Another wonderful time on the water.

Kayak Update

So here is an update to my Kayak Dreams. Since my last post on September 15, I have put in another 9 hours on the water and under the water.

Without bragging, ladder exits are very effective and cowboy scrambles are good. I haven't practiced any paddle float exits so that needs to be done soon.
Clearly ladder exits are my favourite because they are fast and they don't require a lot of physical work.
These last 15 days I have started sitting on the back deck, no hands!
My recent attempts at standing in the cockpit have indicated that I am not ready to invest large amounts of time in learning that trick.

To be sure, all attempts at new techniques are a learning process ... and we love learning so it is justified.

The rolls are coming along slowly.
I read a number of kayaking blogs by kayakers who have a good or great roll or, 2 or 3 or 4 different kinds of good rolls.They nearly all took a number of months to get an occasional roll.

As far as the Paddle Canada course description is concerned, a successful roll, 3 out of 4 attempts ... is not covered until Kayak Skills Level 2. That qualification for most people is in the 3rd year of kayak skills training.

It all depends on where you want to paddle. For Lake Superior, the St. Lawrence River and oceans, a good roll in adverse seas is a must. For paddling alone a roll is a must. Most of my paddling has been alone but nearly 60-75% of my time on the water is practicing rolling and self extraction.

If you never use a sprayskirt, and do not intend to paddle unless it is summertime and the water is 75F/24C degrees, and you paddle with others, and you can swim to shore a distance of 150 feet ... then as long as you have a roster of roll-less self extraction methods, (ladder, cowboy, float), then you can probably still survive and live to tell about it after capsizing unexpectedly.

I need a roll. So I will practice/get instruction until I succeed.
I am considering joining a kayak club next year to get some additional experience and contacts also.

A drysuit will be required soon, the water is already starting to cool off from the cold rains.

I recently located the charger for the Nikon D50, so I will plan on taking it in the kayak too. I am still trying to locate the charger for the waterproof camera.
A GoPro Hero 3+ is in the offing ... 60-90 days I expect. They are surprisingly affordable even with the additional appliances required for water/underwater video/photo.

Yesterday I purchased an extra paddle and hip pads for the boat.
I was very unsafe and foolish to be paddling without an extra paddle for these last 50 hours on the water. Granted, I was mostly doing rescues in familiar waters. Paddling is not walking or running. It is a water environment and risks are to be minimised and safety maximized. Enough said.

To London this week for a few days ... no boating there, no time.

Take care of yourself so that you can help those that matter to you.

The Water Is My Friend

The lake is a lot quieter these days. Of course the serious fishers are still there, but their numbers are low.

So on the days that I do go out for an hour or two for practice, I usually am the only one. No need to worry about rental doo's.
Anybody on the lake these days is familiar with water.

The water is my friend. I am starting to get comfortable, upside down, under water, strapped into a kayak. I am able to concentrate on the job at hand down there now.

Here is a short video from my first trip in the kayak back on August 11:

It was a very nice day with a bit of a wind that built some small waves on the water. It was very invigorating to get the splash and spray while cutting through the waves. Of course the return trip was a lot quieter while being pushed and blown in a following sea. Still for a novice like me, any time on the water is worthwhile. 

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Ladder Self Rescue

This is a good example of this type of rescue.

Key points are to get as much of your chest on to the stern point when initially mounting the kayak.

Second point is very important: Keep your legs as far apart as practicable.
The legs are the outriggers or floats that maintain balance.

Thirdly, keep your torso low; this keeps your centre of gravity low.

And lastly ... enjoy the ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-oX-OsWg

This rescue is fast and simple compared to the Paddle Float Rescue. The ladder is my preferred recovery while practicing kayak rolls.

More Roll Practice

The weather is supposed to be sunny with occasional cloud cover but no rain. The boat activity on the lake should be somewhat less now that the long weekend is over.

Yesterday's efforts were worthwhile learning. The first 7 rolls were without the diving mask which I had forgotten in the car. That was just as well for the practice. Yesterday's evening practice I did have the mask.
Today I will wear my contact lenses and use the mask, so hopefully my being able to see will help me when keeping my sight on the active paddle.

I have 3 days off now so I have time to establish a roll and practice it.
Having a good ladder self rescue is a real energy & time saver. It makes the practicing much more convenient.

I am not concerned that I have made 12 roll attempts and still need to be successful.  I have been a late bloomer and I welcome it. Hopefully the time spent learning will pay off in good performance.
I will persist. I only started kayaking last July 14. It has been less than 60 days and I recognise the accomplishments so far.
The Paddle Canada certification process is based on learning and experience ... practicing what you learn. So that is the concept that I am paying attention to.

It is a simple process: practice until the goal is met ... and then never stop practicing.
Self rescue's and their practice is a part of kayaking life.

So the plan for today is:
adjust the thigh braces
get in the set up position underwater
move the paddle and my body into position
"catch" the water and hip flip
keep my eyes on the active paddle blade, while
leaning back

It may not happen on the next try but that is not important. It is vital to learn and execute the steps.

When I am good enough I will do it.

I am becoming comfortable underwater, upside down, in a kayak.

Good luck to you today working on your projects!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

So the total for today was 12 roll attempts. I am accomplishing 4 out of the 5 steps. On my 12th attempt I performed all 5 steps and it should have been a successful roll except that the spray skirt is dislodging. It is difficult to hip snap a kayak onto the surface with the cockpit flooded with water.

I will adjust the right thigh brace on the boat. I will also try to be a tad more gentle. I have had a tendency to "over" hip snap in the past. The result being that I roll past upright and submerge on the other side.
That being said, now I have enough practice to practice well, to practice effectively. Rolling practice is dependant on boat activity on the lake. Few boats, lots of practice. A lot of boats, very little or no practice. I prefer less than great weather because then the boaters stay away in droves.

So my focus will be to: keep my eye on the active paddle.
Hip snap slightly gentle, only after feeling the "catch". Concentrate on good position.
If I adjust the thigh brace and pay attention to the timing of the execution I should have more success.
Learning to roll the kayak reminds me of learning to ride a bicycle.
"Getting it" was elusive initially, but once I "got it" then I "got it".

After all is said and done, I am enjoying it immensely, and I now have 12 correct ladder rescues under my belt.

Here we are at the Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area on the Lower Rideau Lake.

 

One thing that I have got in the habit of doing before each roll attempt is to measure the depth of the water with the paddle. The 230 cm length of the paddle is equivalent to just under 7' 6".

It is easy to become complacent when concentrating on doing the task at hand. I am glad that I am paying attention. 

Kayak Dreams Two

My kayaking career continues to paddle forward.

Since I started with the July 14 Flatwater Kayak course I have spent about 30 hours on the waves.
July 23, 24 & 25, I had the rental P & H Cetus MV 177 to learn in.
I repeated the Flatwater Kayak course on July 28 in order to gain more practice time.

Last Sunday and Monday I paddled two new lakes: Big Salmon Lake at Frontenac Provincial Park and on Monday it was Upper Rideau Lake ... Narrows Lock to Westport and back, round the lake.
This evening was a relaxing hour long jaunt on Lower Rideau Lake at Rideau Ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are pictures of my first boat! It is a used 2012 Wilderness Systems Tsunami 145. I really like it. This is the same model that I use in both kayak courses. It was also the model I rented last week.

 

Needless to say ... I am very happy!