Davej wrote:
On Jul 17, 11:06 am, Galen Hekhuis wrote:
On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:50:22 -0700 (PDT), Davej
wrote:

So what sort of an adjustable handicapping device could be used for
rolling practice to properly simulate aerated water -- and how could
you calibrate it? Thanks.
Maybe you could use aerators like in ponds and calibrate it by the cfm
consumption.

Well, I was thinking more in the direction of a counter-torque applied
to the kayak by something like a float -- but maybe a better idea
would just be a paddle with extra small blade or maybe a blade drilled
full of holes?


Why bother? Why not simply try to get a really bombproof roll that will
not only work when you are in aerated water, but when you are rolling
against even stronger forces countering your roll? If you manage to get
a roll that is 101% of the force of the aerated water, it might get you
up in that particular situation, but it won't do squat if you get into a
situation where you need 102%. For me, the most effective way of geting
a really good roll was to go playboating. Rolling up in every position
and from every flip as quickly as possible. The second best training
that was more useful when my basic left and right roll wasn't as good
yet was to go in the pool and get one or two buddies to counter my roll.
They would do that by either actively turning my boat against my roll,
or by flipping me again just when I was about to come up. That kind of
unplanned movement against my roll made my roll a lot better and more
bombproof than training to get just the exact situation that you would
encounter with aerated water.

Also, while you're at it, get a handroll. That makes the paddle a nice
force multiplier, but you can also roll up if there is very little for a
paddle to push against.

--
Wilko van den Bergh wilkoa t)dse(d o tnl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/