wrote in message
oups.com...
Here in Newfoundland Canada most hard core paddlers can roll a boat but
most paddlers are not hard core. I would guess that only 10% of sea
kayakers here have a roll; any roll!!!.
We see a bomb proof roll as 10 or 12 consecutive rolls with no
failures. I see it as a surprise upset in frigid water and in an
exceptional case done with the spare paddle.
I have never gone over by accident and been preset for a roll.
What are your thoughts?

Until you have it you don't know if it will work.

On flat water I can roll until I'm knackered - usually. left, right, half
rolls. If I can hold my breathe long enough I can make an awkward capsize,
position the blade and roll up. I'm not the best, but I can do it. When I
cock it up trying something stupid I can usually roll back up.

However, I have only once capsized on white water. I was in an eddy along
with about five others. the eddy current pushed us up the eddy, and into an
overhanging tree. I have never capsized delibaretaly as fast as that
happened, and there was no room to use the paddle to roll, and doing an
eskomo off the side of another boat would have brought them in too - so I
came out.

On white water I have so far managed to avoid capsize through being careful
and using high brace supports - or punting to stay upright. It is only a
matter of time before I do go over in the stream though, and until it
happens I won't know if I can do it or not. I'm afraid that rolling on
white water when there may be some skull crushing rock at just the right
depth is not something I am keen to practice :-) Though perhaps I should.

Ewan Scott