The following are comments on rolling from Sunny Pitcher, who runs Potomac Paddlesports in Washington, DC. These images bring up some interesting issues. I welcome your comments… Kent From Sunny Pitcher: In the whitewater kayaking discipline, the best roll is not just one that “gets you right side up with ease”. If that were the case, whitewater kayakers would have adopted the Standard Greenland Roll from day one: http://www.qajaqusa.org/common_images/gp_roll_standard.mpg.
In my opinion, EJ’s roll is nothing new. It is merely a variation of this bracing technique.
This may look familiar to you: http://www.qajaqusa.org/common_images/gp_roll_sidescull.mpg “
In the whitewater kayaking discipline, the best roll is the one most uniquely suited for both the paddler and boat design that keeps the shoulders and face protected through every phase of it’s execution. Beginners are especially vulnerable to the consequences of bad technique. Therefore, they should develop a reliable and protected “first” roll under the supervision of a certified instructor before advancing to moving water or whitewater. A facial laceration or injured shoulder are potentially serious injuries that can take folks off the water for a long while. It’s really not worth risking that type of setback in exchange for the “quick fix” rolling technique that leaves the beginner unprotected.” – Sunny Pitcher