Forget the pool... even if you get your roll in the pool, you still most likely will not get it in the river, it can be very different. Get on the river and learn how to read water, then when you do swim you know where you are and where to go. Learning to swim in swift water is probably just as important as learning to roll. Always remember we are all in between swims. Practice rolls in an eddy or moving water with a friend there to do a T rescue so you dont swim, but like it or not you have to eventually get your head around and over the "fear" you are experiencing and I believe one of the best ways to do this is by understanding the river and how it works. Good luck and stick with it!!
cool, I'm glad those articles were good--I want to read them but haven't had a chance and only glanced at 'em...
Having just run triple drop and the numbers at 2,700 from right below pine ck hole thru #6 tho, I have to add that some fear is a very big part of kayaking and for some one of the main reasons we do it! I still have an adreniline rush going hours later!
we were shitting putting on below pine ck hole this morning, but you laugh it off, or laugh about it actually--I guess it must that reasonable/unreasonable fear thing the articles talk about--the river is raging, pine ck hole is roaring and crashing not 50 ft away, you have to peel out into insane wave trains and super fast pushy water--any person should be scared out of their minds to intentionally jump into that--but, it was the most amazing thing I've ever done--this was my 1st time on #'s at high water--wow, what an intense thing this kayaking thing we do is!!
anyway, just wanted to mention that in case you're thinking you'll never ever be scared on or putting on the river, and that it's amazing and awesometo be scared and run the river that scared you...
Well – as you can see the opinions on how to handle this matter vary vastly. I think I will stick with the conservative approach but push myself just a little out of my comfort zone each time. This weekend I took a class with RMOC – thought I’d get my roll there, but no such luck. The class was still beneficial ~ great pointers and corrections to bad habits I’ve already formed. Pricey though (private lesson). Worth the cost and I’ll consider doing it again once the water goes down. However, once the water does go down, I hope to go out on any easy floats the group in CO Springs runs (great group-PPWC). Class II trips don't come up very often with water this big and fun for the experienced boaters. So maybe this will give me the time I need to get more comfortable overall.
Hi,
I agree with everyone's tips regarding skills. I want to add one more piece regarding how our nervous system deals with fear and how it translates to our bodies, then give a suggestion on how to regulate fears effects on your body.
Sympathetic Nervous System(SNS): as you know it kicks in hard when we get scared, feel threatened, etc. . Our bodies response is to go into the "flight or fight", vasoconstriction, get the heck out of there response.
Parasympathetic Nervous System(PNS): is the layed back counter balance to our SNS. It's the, "feed and breed", vasodilation, let's chill and smell the flowers, response.
When we experience something scary, our bodies remember. So, when we return to that event or even think about it, our body's SNS kicks back in. When we are in an overstimulated, high rev, SNS response, we loose our fine motor control, ie. rolling, basic kayak skills, etc...
Unless, we slow things down in our head and allow for the PNS to kick in, ahhhh, we begin to feel kinesthetically again and our propioception returns, ie. our ability to hang out and roll.
Homework: To access the PNS, think about an experience that brought you joy, smiles, good feelings. Stay with those thoughts until you feel a bodily response, relaxation, deeper breaths, etc. . Now, get in your boat in a safe place, pool, etc. and resource that relaxed place. Let me know if it helps.
Kim ~ awesome! I'll give that a try. I'm "thinking about attempting" Deckers this weekend - just the flat parts. If I do, I'll try this and let ya know. Otherwise, I'll be in the pool again on Tuesday.
Thanks so much! Awesome input I'm getting I'll get over this yet!!!
It's not something to get over, it's something to get into!
water and gravity become addictive!
falling~water~falling~water~falling~water~falling~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
If there ever was such a thing as magic, it may be fond in water~falling!
don't fight it, go with it, it will change your world, if it happens for you?
good luck
I live in Florissant as well. Deckers is a good run with good flat water. It will help you with practicing and nagivating your way around current. You can also practice your roll at Manitou Lake.
I taught rolling/beginning kayaking for over 5 yrs and have seen this kind of problem a lot. I agree with those who've said to take a step back. You don't want to develop a panic response in your boat (ok, sounds like you've already got a bit of one, so the goal now is to get rid of it and not let it get ingrained!). It's damned near impossible to develop a reliable roll if you panic when upside down, and it's damned near impossible to stay rightside up if you are so anxious that you can't relax your hips and brace effectively. Spend LOTS of time in the pool, on a lake, and in very easy rivers that you stay calm on! Do a hundred wet exits,waiting longer and longer upside down before exiting, to convince yourself that you can always swim. Then only paddle where you feel 100% safe swimming. Even if it takes you a year or more to relax in your boat, it will be time very well spent! I've seen many beginners develop a fear response that they can't get over, and to my knowledge, they all eventually gave up the sport. With a slow, non-pressured approach, and some good instruction, you will pass this hurdle (and then be faced with another- the beauty of kayaking!)
Have fun in the process!!!
-Claire
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"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart..." Confucius
a roll is key. once you know you can roll back up if you flip over im sure you will feel alot better about being out on the river.
but dont get yourself in a bad situation. push your comfort level... but not too far or you could have a really bad experance and never want to paddle again
I bought the book bomb proof roll and beyond and went to the river and thats all I needed, just put that effort in and you will get it. After you learn one roll move on to the next
I'll get over this yet!!!
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