but in short, you gotta' learn to take some licks.

Like you said, first work on that brace.  You also need to work on tucking immediately  when you start to flip.  If you try to boat with a forward posture you are 1/2 way there.

if you boat long enough esp. in the south east you are gonna get clocked a time or 2, it's part of it.

work on your roll on both sides and in shallow water, you can also work on throwing the boat over your body with your legs while you are under it in a tuck so you can then roll up.

there is a pool roll, a river roll, a bombproof roll, and a full contact battle roll.

enjoy, tuck hard and brace for the hits.

DW