THE CRITICAL STAGE OF A CAPSIZE RECOVERY 



The start (solid lines) and finish (phantom lines) of a planing sweep are shown head-on 

 Success is almost certain if the kayaker has surfaced by the time he has completed the 90- 

 degree sweep. Some minor refinements of rolling are apparent. The left forearm is shown 

 right against the foredeck (a convenient means of orientation), the leading shoulder is nearer 

 the surface (to gain lift when the torso is swung outward), and the hips right the kayak as far 

 as possible while the torso is still partly submerged (to avoid having to lift torso and kayak at 

 the same time). 



Since Crantz's time, various authors have described 

 kayak rolling. At least 30 methods of rolling have 

 been known in Greenland. There are possibly many 

 more, because the variations and combinations are 

 numerous. 



Although kayaking as a sport first became popular in 

 the 1860's, it was not until the 1920's that the value of 

 learning to roll began to be fully realized by the 

 recreational kayaker. Interest has grown steadily 

 since that time, and rolling instruction has been 

 included as a regular part of many club training 

 courses. A preliminary step in mastering the roll 

 consists of using the paddle to prevent a capsize, by 

 turning the blade parallel to the water surface and 

 pressing down sharply on the side toward which the 

 kayak is capsizing, while exerting an upward 

 pressure with the other hand. This produces a 

 rotary movement which restores the ka\ak to an 

 even keel. Recreational canoeists call this maneuver 

 a "paddle brace." 



Most kayak rolls are based upon one or more of 

 three basic movements. These are the paddle brace, 



the "sculling" stroke, from which lift is obtained by 

 moving the paddle back and forth through a small 

 arc with the leading edge of the blade at a slight 

 planing angle, and the "sweep," from which lift 

 is obtained by sweeping the blade through a large 

 arc at a slight planing angle. The method of rolling 

 shown in the sketches is the standard Greenland 

 roll, so called because it is the most common roll 

 encountered in Greenland. A slightly modified 

 version of this roll is called by recreational canoeists 

 the Pawlata roll in honor of the European who 

 introduced it to them. Many skillful ka\akers could 

 not roll, and sometimes a highly skilled roller would 

 fail to recover. Such men could be rescued by their 

 companions by either of two common methods. One 

 method was executed by placing the bow of the 

 rescue craft within reach of the capsized paddler's 

 hand, so that he could pull himself up by a one- 

 handed chinning motion. The other method was 

 executed by bringing the rescue kayak alongside 

 the capsized kayak so that the two craft were parallel 

 and about two feet apart. The rescuer then laid 



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