No hands roll...

[MNBernst]

:confused: Just wondering, can people do no-hands rolls (aka straight-jacket roll, body roll, etc.)? I know many people that can do consistant hand rolls, but no one else that can do a no-hands roll... So whoever's out there, can you do a no hand's roll? :rolleyes:

[rterry]

I can't possibly count the number of "no hands rolls" I have tried, and I haven't hit one once. But I have changed my handrolling style recently, so maybe it's worth going back to the drawing board. I would love to hear from anyone out there who can do one....

Rob Terry

[MNBernst]

I've only started getting them recently. First off, you need a boat that is very very easily rolled. More than that, you need the boat to be very easy to hand roll, or have a very strong hand roll.
First, get the hand roll strong enough so that you can do 1-hand rolls relatively easy. Since a no-hands roll uses only your torso, good balance and a strong hip snap are essentials.
Once you have that done, you can copy the process that is used to teach handrolling, where one progresses using less and less floatation. Put your hands under your armpits, and hold the floatation against your chest. Note: if the float is heavy, it won't help when you're balancing up. Set up like you're doing a hands roll along the back deck (getting as close to the surface as possible), and balance your hip snap against the floatation and movement of your torso. Once the boat is past vertical on its' upright, bring your head up along the back deck, and sit up. If you feel like the boat is up, but will fall back over if you lift your head, you can just stick your arm over the boat to help you get upright.
Also, I practice balancing with my boat halfway over, balancing just with my torso. To start, I move my head along the back deck, and sweep my torso out. As the boat get on a higher angle, your torso will rotate side-ways to keep yourself face up. This improves balance, and is similar to the finish of the no-hands roll, although you are face up in this exercise, and face down in the roll.
Finally, the move isn't easy by any means, and practicing it (even if it's not working) should get it better and better. You're normal and hands rolls will all be improved if you can make this roll, as you're learning how to use your torso when you roll, along with your hands or paddle.
If you have any more questions, or if you wanna see a video, just IM me at MNBernst, or send an email to MNBernst@aol.com.
Matt Bernstein :)

[thewildwaterguy]

i worked atvalley mill camp for aseveral years, teaching paddling, and several of thew really advanced kids eventually learned to do it. sometimes every time. its really obnoxious because a lot of it has to do with the flotation force of your pfd vs. your body weight - so a 90 pound kid in a perception jib with a brand new lifejacket can do it kinda easely with practice while i flail around like an idiot. personally i think its a trivial and unnessesary skill - certainly not worth the amount of time one kid (willy dickerson) put into it he - forexample may be able to do it 9 times out of ten but he stills misses his roll in class 3...- but it does show mastery of the hipsnap, for whatever thats worth. a hand roll is a much more important skill, though similarly underused and often over practiced. imagine losing your paddle and going off a class 5 drop upside down....???