From: Stamer_Gregory@bns.attmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 16:20:54 -0500
Subject: RE: Rolling
To: internet!lists.intelenet.net!baidarka@bns.attmail.com
Message-Id: <H000014e003d6847@MHS>
> On the subject of blade orientation when rolling, a whitewater
paddling friend
> told me to slap the surface of the water twice to see if the blade is
parallel
> to the water. If you pull down and the blade slices in, you know that
the
> paddle is not oriented right; if you feel the blade slap, start your
roll.
Shawn,
This is a great tip and works well for green (non-aerated)
water. Unfortunately it doesn't always work for aerated
water such as "soup" in the surf zone (a very likely place to
"practice" your combat roll). Some paddlers who use Euro
blades ensure orientation by placing drops of epoxy, textured
strips or other devices on the paddle shaft to make it easy
to find the proper control hand position.
Of course one of the beauties of the Greenland paddle is that
you simply never have to worry about this. Your grip on the
paddle blade tells you all you need to know.
Greg Stamer