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Subject:
Rolls for paddles
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Goose
Joined: 02/01/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Hampshire, UK
Posts: 34
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Posted: 06/06/07 8:14pm |
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I've recently discovered that in a fully laden sea kayak, the type of roll that'll get me up somewhat depends on the type of paddle I'm using. When I'm using a wing paddle, I pop right up using a CtoC Roll, but I can't get it to work using a more traditional assymetric blade, when I have to resort to a Sweep Roll, which I find hard work.
Has anyone got any experience of which rolls work best with which paddles, or is it just a case of practise practise practise?
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Wade
Joined: 07/23/06
Outdoorzy Original
Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 829
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endercore
Joined: 02/18/07
Outdoorzy Adventurer
Lexington, KY
Posts: 141
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Posted: 08/14/07 10:49pm |
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maybe you should go out to the pool or a lake or somthing with all of the paddles you might use and see which roll works better with which paddle... or you could simplify and have only one paddle.
i always sweep roll though, so i might not understand why paddles would affect your c-c roll.
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Goose
Joined: 02/01/07
Outdoorzy Explorer
Hampshire, UK
Posts: 34
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Posted: 08/16/07 4:54pm |
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Thanks for the feedback - thought I'd add some of my own.
I raised this issue recently following a "skills test" at the beginning of a multi-day adventure race involving some hefty sea paddling. For an assessment under the scrutiny of the safety officer, some of the paddlers used a regular blade to demonstrate their capability at rolling and recovery, switching to wing blades for the actual racing. I should point out that all of the people that did so were eveidently very capable paddlers, and no-one required any assistance throughout the event, but it supported my original suspicion that rolling is indeed trickier with wing blades.
One of the racers (also an experienced coach) agreed with me, and shared his view, which I though made a lot of sense:
The regular "sweep roll" places the paddle blade at a slight angle, and slices a fast, straight line underwater, rotating the boat by forcing water downwards off the blade as it progresses. Naturally the thinner and smoother the blade, the better it slices, and the better the rotation. The strong curvature and wide shoulder of a wing disrupts the flow of water over the blade face, so this technique naturally favours a smooth, traditional blade.
Alternatively, The "CtoC roll" pulls directly against the water using the face of the blade. There's very little "front to back" action as the paddle stays perpendicular to the boat, right by the cockpit. This action favours a blade that "holds" the water, staying stable under pressure. A traditional blade is more inclined to start slicing, resulting in a "falling leaf" wiggle, whereas wing blades are reknowned for gripping the water under tension.
I've come to a conclusion, and having now used the same set of wing paddles for multiday sea trips, flat-water marathons and club sprints, I'll be sticking with my "CtoC"s for the time-being...
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