Just a couple of slow-mo rolls in the new wrapped frame. The first one is just to prove a point that you don’t need strength or flexibility to roll. I start upright and finish upright, and I’m barely touching the paddle. Boat selection doesn’t matter much either. Easy rolls are mostly about technique and putting in the time to unwind your body‘s natural panic responses that create tension at the waist. (basically your waist muscles fighting each other as you try to turn the kayak over)
The three rolls seen here: sweep to c or screw roll, c to c or storm roll, and reverse sweep roll (incredibly useful on white water also called a rodeo roll) form a solid foundation that will let you roll up from whatever position you capsized in without needing to return to a set up position. I am NOT a fan of the layback roll because it has a very weak finishing position. Whatever your advantage you gain from getting your body closer to the center of rotation is easily canceled by the reduced mobility in your hips and shoulders in that position. You’re also poorly positioned at the finish to take a quick stroke and meet the next wave.
This new frame seems to have a bit more ‘pop’ at the finish of the roll which is some thing I’m always jealous of in fiberglass boats that carry their inertia farther from the center of rotation and also can much more easily build in buoyant sections above the waterline. I wouldn’t say it’s a huge difference but definitely a nice little nudge.
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