Canoeing Basics – The Roll
One of the biggest fears that most people have when they take up canoeing is the terror of being trapped inside an upturned canoe. Often this is linked to the belief that there is no way to right an overturned canoe by yourself alone - however, this is not true. People who are worried about their canoes capsizing should learn how to do one of the various rolls which will help right an overturned canoe. The put-across roll is the easiest of these methods.
The first move you should learn is the hip flick. The paddle is held out in front of you, and as the left knee and hip are raised, your torso is rotated to the left, and the right arm extended across the centre line to a position outside the left knee. At the same time your body curves forward at the waist and spine. As the kayak is rocked in the opposite direction your body unwinds, passes through the upright forward facing position, then winds up in the opposite direction, finishing with the left arm extended over the right side of the kayak, and your body bent over to the left. This exercise begins to give you a sense of the timing and sequence of movements in the roll.
Now begin to roll - the aim is to get as much of the torso as possible in the water while moving it the shortest distance from the centre line. The angle of roll of the kayak is controlled with the knees and thighs to maximize the righting buoyancy force. To reach this position, begin by lowering your right arm deep in the water. Bend forward at the waist and rotate to the right. The left side of your face should finish against the side of the kayak adjacent to your right knee. At the same time your right hand reaches deep into the water, pulling the shoulder and upper body under the surface. This hand may help with support by sculling. Most paddlers will find that fairly soon they can get their face in the water. Those who are more advanced and flexible will be able to progress to whole head and second arm immersion. Ultimately, this exercise can be developed into a complete roll.
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