Nice weather for gannets

Nice weather for gannets, not for kayakers.

 

Rolling with Sticks

I now have a copy of Christopher Crowhurst's 'Rolling with Sticks' which works well both in sea water and pool water. The problem with learning new rolls is a DVD and laptop have to stay dry, whereas 'Rolling with Sticks' can come with you.

Saturday - Sticks at Scapa

 The combination of illustration and concise text is enough to help recall a video sequence and the main points to attend to. The presentation is clear and easy to follow.

I recommend using it in conjunction with video clips, such as Christopher's own Qajaq Rolls. 

Pam over at 'Kayak across the Water' has reviewed 'Rolling with Sticks' in her usual eloquent and entertaining style  here.

Sunday - steamy Sticks at the Pool

 The book makes it tempting to try a series of new rolls one after the other!

Hot work.

Having started out with hand rolls, then a norsaq and after that a paddle, I often find that the paddle just gets in the way. The rolls that finish on the back deck are do-able if the paddle is held in front of you, but, if there is any behind the back or neck paddle placement I find it extremely difficult to finish. Similarly forward finish rolls like the reverse sweep roll and the storm roll remind me of learning to roll all over again. I feel like I'll have to do thousands before they are reliable. If they are all I do for a session of about an hour or so, by the end I am pleased with them. If a week goes by before I have practiced them again the success rate is unpredictable. 

As for the forward/forward norsaq roll, I have left that for another day, hopefully one spent with a mentor.

Until there is a projector and giant screen at the pool with a web-cam/video-conferencing link with an expert, I will be using all the help I can get!

(Come to think of it, that's not such a bad idea...)

The Falls of Firth

A short bit of film at The Ouse. We don't have any rivers here so it is a novelty to get on a bit of accessible moving water. Good practice for meeting the flow at skerries and holms. I was surprised at how fast it was. I was unable to paddle out (and up and over) the flow under the bridge at all. Ha! no big deal I hear you say, but Mr M struggled too until it was nearly high water.

(If Mr M doesn't start taking useful photos soon I'm going to have to re-name this blog.)

Mr M learns to roll

Mr M proves that an old rocker can learn to roll.

End of season treat

 Our last outdoor evening coached session was completed in the dark as a gale was building.

Once we were changed there was a lovely surprise cake made by Nicola.

Thanks Nicola!

and thanks to everyone who came along through the year and helped Mary, Peter, Kristian and me achieve our Level 2 in July.

more cake anyone?

We have had a few indoor sessions already as folks get ready to roll and warmed up for the forthcoming canoe polo season.

upside down indoors

Mr Mackayak has decided he is learning to roll too. Lucky for him his partner is a rolling nut who has thought through all the approaches to learning to roll and is happy to spend hours and hours and hours thinking, talking, practising, discussing, deconstructing and reconstructing rolls.

Unfortunately I have no pockets or places to attach my camera to on my tuilik so I have no photos of  progress so far, but its going great!