Training sessions - May 2016

A few training sessions on the canal in May,,,

Clubhouse to Bridge 18 - 10th May 2016

Clarke Lane to Higher Poynton Marina - 15th May 2016

Adlington Marina to Marple - 20th May 2016

Clarke Lane to Fools Nook Swingbridge - 25th May 2016 - The canal was closed in Bollington due to a leak, so went south for a change.

Had a couple of sessions at Brereton greenland rolling. My left sided roll seems to have returned, still can't perform a proper reverse sweep.

Canal and Brereton Sessions - April/May

Getting a bit lazy keeping the blog going for the routine stuff!... here's a summary...

Canal sessions:

April 19th - Clubhouse to Bridge 18 - 10.1km
April 24th - Clarke Lane to Higher Poynton - 16.7km
May 1st - Clarke Lane to Higher Poynton - 16.7km
May 3rd - Clubhouse to Bridge 18 - 10.1km
May 10th - Clubhouse to Bridge 18 - 10.1km
May 15th - Clarke Lane to Higher Poynton - 16.7km
May 20th - Adlington Marina to Marple - 13.8km

Brereton sessions:

April 28th - Did two rolls, water freezing!
May 4th - Sunny, but water still cold
May 12th - Lake finally warmed up!
May 19th - lots of rolling, can't work out the reverse sweep yet though.

Bollington Pool Session - 16th October 2015

Used my greenland paddle in the pool and practised the storm roll I had learnt with Helen Wilson on Anglesey. At the end of the session I tried a hand roll, and did one first time, but then failed all subsequent attempts. Oh well.

Greenland rolling with Helen Wilson - 4th October 2015

Having spent a number of sessions over the summer trying greenland rolls, I took up the opportunity for some expert tuition with Helen Wilson from greenlandorbust.org who was in the country and running courses over the weekend.

So on a nice still Anglesey morning, four students including myself started off the day on Rhoscolyn beach with some yoga as a warm-up.

Warm-up yoga session - photo credit: Mark Tozer

The group had various levels of rolling experience, with all of us having successfully rolled in the past, but Helen still started off with the basics to ensure we removed any bad habits. Helen broke the roll down into its constituent parts and we did various exercises, initially without boats and paddles, and then progressing to performing "balance braces".

Wot? No boats? - photo credit: Mark Tozer

I'd tried to do a balance brace before, but never managed it purely with a paddle - I needed to use my airbags, but with Helen's help I managed to get into a stable position laying flat on the water using only my paddle for additional buoyancy.

We then took turns with individual tuition from Helen, and my basic greenland roll was OK, so we moved on to my goal of developing my forward finishing rolls, namely the storm roll and the reverse sweep.

To learn the storm roll, you start with what's known as the "continuous storm roll". This entails capsizing with the paddle already in a perpendicular position and ensuring the end of the paddle stays in contact with the upturned hull. The idea then is to use a "pry" technique to right the kayak, keeping in a forward tucked position and using the boat as a fulcrum for the paddle. I started this manoeuvre off with a paddle float to give me additional buoyancy, but progressed to performing the roll without it.

Photo credit: Mark Tozer

Once having mastered the "continuous" version Helen took me through a transition roll where I capsized as normal, but brought the paddle round to a perpendicular position before executing the pry. Again, the main tactic required was to get the paddle resting on the hull and staying in contact with the boat as I righted it.

Finally I moved on to the storm roll proper, where the first part of the roll is a sweep followed by a pry to complete the roll.

After a reasonable amount of success with the storm roll, Helen then tried to teach me the reverse sweep. I didn't get too far with this as I was now getting a bit tired and lacking the energy for a strong "crunch" action to right the boat with the required leg action. So I called it a day a little early and went for a more relaxing paddle around the Beacon to finish up.

I learnt a lot and it was great to meet Helen (and Mark again). Hopefully I'll be able to practice a bit more in pool sessions over the winter.

Hmmm... not sure about the skull cap! - Photo credit: Mark Tozer

Brereton Rolling Sessions - August 2015

Spent another couple of thursday nights greenland rolling (13th & 20th). Made some progress on the left hand rolls, slowing them down and improving the technique. Right hand side pry roll becoming more reliable, but still not making much progress on any form of forward finishing sweep roll.

Brereton Lake Rolling Sessions - July 2015

I went to Brereton for 3 of the Thursday night club sessions and worked on my rolling to various degrees. As I improve my right-sided rolls, my left-sided rolls still do not get any better. On my right I have done the traditional lay-back roll, storm roll, butterfly roll and pry roll. Still struggling on the forward finishing rolls, but having a few successful attempts at the pry roll on my last session was encouraging.

Brereton Lake - 18th June 2015

Another greenland rolling session. Managed a number of successful rolls on my left hand side, but all requiring a forward sweep to finish. Main problem seems to be not being able to bring my body and head out of the water last with no discernible hip flick. No success with reverse sweep/pry. I think I overdid all the rolling and have strained my back!... perhaps I'm getting too old for this.

Brereton Lake - 11th June 2015

Another greenland rolling session at Brereton. Still can't do much more than a basic right handed roll, left side roll very poor, looking like I've got no hip flick and no drive with my left leg. Need to go back to basics and develop some better body action. Not sure if my back likes being contorted too much though...

Brereton Lake - 21st May 2015

Rolling session using the greenland paddle. Standard greenland roll is smooth and slow on the right, but a bit all over the place on the left, so I must force myself to keep practising on my weaker side.

Spend a lot of time exploring the balance position - can't quite hold it... but getter better and other types of rolls prying and reverse sweep. Really struggle to come up in the forwards position - the back deck position is very instinctive.

Will take a nose clip and a camera to video next time. Should be able to analyse what I'm doing well and what I'm just getting away with.

Brereton Lake - 7th May 2015

First chance to play with my new toy - a red cedar Greenland paddle from Mike Bell at Cedarboats.

Intention is to work my way through some of the Greenland competition rolls to improve my general rolling skills. It was interesting paddling around getting used to the Greenland paddle - marked difference in performance as you extend the paddle and put more of it in the water.

I could do the standard layback roll easily, and managed to "scull" myself back up too. I tried to do a "storm roll" but I find it difficult to break my instinctive rolling position and come up leaning forwards rather than laying on the back deck.

Perhaps when the lake is a bit warmer I'll get a bit more adventurous!.. like rolling on the left as well as the right.

PS - if anyone reading this doesn't know what I'm talking about, here's a video clip demonstrating Greenland rolling technique... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Se-xytOeSc