Userid: Password:
BoaterTalk
BoaterTalk
BT Media Store
BoaterTalk: The International Information Site for the Whitewater Paddler

Forum
Forum: BoaterTalk

Clear all "New" markers Turn on extra data

Thread View Frames View Board View

note Rolling vs. Shallow water New

Forum: BoaterTalk
Date: Jul 24 2008, 19:08 GMT
From: Zeronine

I'm still pretty new at this whole thing, so bear with me....

I spent a lot of time in the pool last winter getting my roll dialed in, and it sure has given me a lot more confidence on the water.  I'm now a lot more inclined to try things that I was sure would flip me before I had a roll that I could rely on.

Trouble is, several of my flips lately have been in some pretty shallow water.  One of these resulted in a nice scar that I wear on my chin...high brace failed in sudsy water below a drop, and I hit it as soon as I flipped, never had a chance to get my hands up.  Another was shallow enough on the Shaver's Fork of the Cheat that I was attempting to brace off the bottom with my paddle, but had to throw in the towel because I could see it was putting my shoulder in a vulnerable position.

Obviously, not flipping is the way to go when the water is shallow, but sometimes it winds up happening.  What's the best thing to do in these situations?  I'm getting annoyed because I know I can roll, it's just not the same with my helmet smacking off the rocks as I float down stream, or the back of my PFD dragging on the river bed.  A couple times I tried hanging out until the water got a little deeper, but ran out of air before I could give my roll a shot. 

Is it worth going to the lake and flipping next to shore where it is shallow, so I can practice hip snapping off the bottom?  I just got a new Super Fun, so I'm sure I will be looking at things upside down a lot more in the near future until I get used to that boat. 

Any ideas/opinions would be appreciated.
Related Links:
PFD - NRS, Astral, Kokatat & Extrasport PFDs
paddle - Click Here to Shop Whitewater Paddles at Rock/Creek.
helmet - See the Full Selection of Whitewater Helmets at Rock/Creek >

Add Message

smile You may not like this..... drippinwet New
th_up Sometimes, when you know its coming, you just.... hardboater New
th_up Tuck!  drippenwet is right,   even tucked you're gonna take some hits, BLUEEZ New
note I would not practice shallow water rolls... bald1 New
th_up " Full face helmet" <NT> bikenrun New
note practice the back deck roll... brad_ New
note when past the point of no return go ahead and tuck jclevenger New
note Watch the high brace, be very careful for your shoulders (more inside) ralf New
note Getting dragged never stops sucking. GRITS New
smile Thanks everyone! Zeronine New
Outdoor Play

Add Message