Losing your roll and getting it back.

[Tim]

I think I’ve discovered the secret to rolling. Feet! When we forward paddle our feet are in contact with the foot rest and we are applying pressure to the foot rest. This energy is being transferred from the feet all the way through to the paddle.
Now, I experienced a little wobble in the pool a few months ago whilst practising my roll. I had lost it! Panic stations! Worrying thoughts started going through my head…….I’m getting old……..I’ve lost my flexibility….etc, etc…. My set up position felt fine, my sweep out and pull down seemed ok. I started experimenting with pressing down using my feet each time I practiced. Eureaka! I discovered that by pressing down on my right foot when rolling on my right side my roll was successful. The same for the left side. However, would it work in white water? I’ve successfully rolled twice on recent paddles in tricky water making a conscious decision to press down firmly using my feet. Ive probably been doing subconsciously for years but I now have to put more emphasis upon it when attempting a roll. Give it a go. It may help you!

[Geoff]

I too had a moment in the pool when after being pushed over my roll failed twice when set up etc felt fine.
On the 3rd attempt it was roll or bail and while desperate for air I took a moment to compose myself and rolled.
Reflecting on it later I realised that although my set up felt fine I wasn’t leaning forward enough and just throwing my paddle through the motions.

I also had a moment at HPP where after a run of 3 successful rolls at Lee Valley and HPP I failed 2 attempts and ended up swimming. Again on reflection I think that I can relate it to my set up and although feeling fine I think that my BA was giving me the impression I was further forward than I actually was.

I’ve worked on my roll a lot over the last 12 months and have found out that by slowing my roll down I have been able to improve my technique on both sides.
It is especially good at finding out your weak points or where you’ve got a bit lazy.

I’ve also found that the set up is the most important part of a roll as a lack of effort here can cause a paddle to dive or be in a deeper starting point in the water.

[Tim]

Nice one Geoff. There are lots of elements that come together for a successful roll. Youve highlighted paddle position, body position and starting position. Get one wrong and its good night Vienna. Getting the blade back up to the surface provides more opportunity to apply pressure on the water and is one of the important steps when getting ready to roll.

[Geoff]

I analysed my roll last night and found the following. On my 1st roll I was conscious of my foot position. Although I was pressing down on my right foot plate it was to give me greater contact on my right knee.
My next roll was just pressing down on my right foot plate with a straight leg (no knee contact) and then one with just knee contact. Both rolls were successful, but my paddle finished a lot deeper.

Kev was also conscious of his rolls and agreed that he found that his knee was the more noticeable contact point.
I would recommend that the next time your in the pool be conscious of your rolling side leg positions, as (to me) good contact with the front quarter of your boat is the secret of a good “hip flick”

Post up how you get on…!

[Nigel]

Some very interesting and valid points here Gents, I have tried adopting Geoff”s philosophy the last couple of pool visits, by slowing everything down and trying to be composed, this definitely seems to make the roll more successful in the first attempt, those few seconds ensuring you lean further forward, let the blade break the surface of the water and ensure a steady wide sweep definately has a more positive effortless result. I will be focusing on contact points next week, knees feet( applying pressure) and forward tuck position. Really useful comments.

[Tim]

Have a go at keeping your chin on your shoulder throughout the roll. This stops the head coming up too soon. We worked on this with David last week and it made a difference.

[Author]

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