Performance Video

You’ve got a great roll. It’s fairly effortless. You are almost 100 %. Of course, that stat is qualified by adding, “in the pools”. Although you’ve practiced all the drills to simulate combat situations, somehow that roll isn’t with you in the current. Instead there’s this sloppy, difficult roll that often requires more than one try, if it works at all! What can you do to keep the smooth roll with you when you hit the whitewater? Get rid of the fear. It is fear and not technique that is ruining your roll. There are some mental preparations that can help a lot. When I started boating my hero said that 90% of the sport is mental, that once a paddler gets a certain degree of skill, the rest of her progress depends on her head. I’ve found that statement to be fairly accurate. So, here are some mental and practical tips to ensure that you bring your good roll with you anywhere you go on the river.

First off, being underwater is part of our sport. Accept it. Mentally embrace that in the boating world of mere mortals like us, being up side down is to be expected. Not only is it OK to be underwater, you have to BELIEVE THAT IT’S FUN to be underwater. Yep, that’s the key! If you expect to be underwater and find yourself comfortable there, even in the rapids, then you’re roll will work as well as it does in the pools. (If these statements are causing your palms to sweat and your heartbeat to increase, then keep reading, this article will help you.)

There are several things that happen when you BELIEVE it’s fun to be underwater. Often, you are so relaxed about it that you never flip in the first place. If you do flip, you are so relaxed that you remain focused on rolling, and you do! And when you roll up, you are so relaxed and focused that you are balanced for the rest of the rapid. Wow! Wouldn’t that be nice?

How do you get there? By putting yourself there on purpose! “Arggghhh”, I hear you cringe. OK. Baby steps. The whole purpose of this practice is to desensitize you and reprogram fear into comfort. Find some deep current where you know you’ll roll up. Nothing challenging, just current. Have a friend there with the insurance of a bow rescue. The goal is to feel 100% confident that you are OK. Heck, even swimming here is fine, but you’d rather not use up your energy that way. So, here’s the plan. With lots of air, your goal is to flip in this current, AND JUST HANG OUT! (Safely of course.) What does the water feel like? Is it pushing you? Is it putting pressure on one of your blades? What’s the temperature? How is your body responding to the current? Perhaps open your eyes. Be curious! And then roll up.

OK, that curious exploration certainly was different. But it wasn’t bad. Why, it’s even interesting. Tell yourself, even out loud, that it’s OK to be underwater, maybe even FUN! Do this over and over and over. And then choose an squirlier spot. Your goal is to get so familiar and comfortable being up side down that you almost don’t even notice! Go to eddylines and playspots just to spend time up side down. Not only will your roll be with you in the rapids, but when you’re playing too. Spend time underwater in the deep feed out of wave trains. Gradually move to safe spots within rapids to flip and roll. It’s only through this desensitization process that fear is replaced with confidence.

Tune up your roll. Practice it often. Once one side is reliable, learn your other side. If you have rolls on both sides, use them equally. To get my “off-side” roll down I spent one summer purposely rolling on that side first. By the end of the summer it worked! And soon I wasn’t aware of which side I had used to roll, I was simply upright! And you will be too.

By Mary DeRiemer, host of River Runner's Edge, The Kayak Roll, Kayaker's Edge, Kayaker's Playbook DVD's and books.

We think there's nothing better than slipping into river time and returning to what is truly significant. It's very likely that you do too. Whether you are new to the sport, interested in making plateau breakthroughs, or wanting an exceptional wilderness or international trip, join us in reaching your destination. www.adventurekayaking.com