Roll with It! CP's Winter Fav

The Rolling and Rescue class at the Skokie Lifetime Fitness pool introduced me to The Northwest Passage about 7 years ago. I took the class with my dad and some family friends. I had previously paddled a kayak only a handfull of times.

Instructor Keith Heger worked with my buddy Kulby and me during the first night. As the end of the pool session drew to a close, Kulby had hit his roll once, and I was still just making it halfway up, sucking down a gulp of air and then plunging back into the warm pool water.

It drove me crazy, but in a good way. For the rest of the week I was itching to get back into a boat and give it another shot. Walking through the halls of my high school I kept mentally replaying classroom instructor Bonnie Perry's nuggets of rolling technique, "Think hips. Don't yank on your paddle. Roll like you're in ballet. Head last!"

Instead of spacing out and doodling during Constitution lectures in my U.S. History class, I tried to trigger my hip-snap-head-dink muscle memory. I was going to roll during the next session. I just had to.

Sure enough, I hit my first roll halfway through the next pool session. But the instructors wouldn't let me stop there. They made a rolling junkie out of me. Offside, angel rolls, C to C, hand rolls, they were always ready to throw down the next challenge.

I came to enjoy the post class hot tub social almost as much as the pool time. Everyone who was taking or teaching the class would gather to congratulate each other, trade outdoor stories and sometimes talk a little friendly smack. It was a blast.

Now I get to share my knowledge and passion for rolling (and paddling in general) at the pool sessions, and the best part is that I'm still learning every time I go. In my opinion the highpoint of the whole experience is that there are so many seasoned, friendly kayak instructors hanging out at the pool each week. With all that paddling wisdom floating around it's pretty much impossible to leave without learning something new. When the kayak launches are iced over and the winter winds are ripping, there's no better way to get your paddling rocks off than attending the Rolling and Rescue class. The chance to hone the skills you already have, learn new strokes and rolls, hear about all the cool stuff other people have been doing and goof around in the water with some fun loving folks, what could be better than that?

Check it out here:
http://nwpassage.com/rolling.htm

CP reflects on Pool Sessions

The mucky, snowy mud on the trails allows neither XC skis nor mountain bikes, the ice on Grass Lake is too thin for kite skiing and, as of yet, I’m too much of a wuss to man up and paddle on chilly Lake Michigan. Yes, it’s the dreaded transition season, when pursuing outdoor sports takes even more dedication than usual. What’s one to do during these dreary times? Bring outdoor sports inside!

For the past month the “rolling crew” (Nancy, Keith, the Pauls, Wendy, Jeff, Andrea, Bethany, Susan et al.) and I have been playing around as well as spreading the rolling gospel at the Lifetime Fitness pool in Skokie. It's awesome when the staff get a chance to be on the learning side, and learn new rolls (Bethany, Shannon and Zoe all learned the sweep! And two days ago Paul S. taught me the back deck roll). Plus, it's a chance for us to spend time together, doing something we love, and with all the smack talking, standing up in your boat, the chance to kick gym patrons out of the pool, what’s not to love? In what is typically the "off season" for an outdoor adventure company, we're pretty lucky to have this outlet to teach and learn, hang out together, and escape some of our winter cabin fever.

On top of that, 100% of the participants in February's 4 week Rolling and Rescue class learned to roll! Way to go, instructors.

Personally, though, I'm looking forward to the open pool sessions on each of the next three Sunday nights. This opportunity is open to anyone until there’s no more room in the pool. If I don't teach any private lessons, I plan on spending the time to learn the bow stall. You’ll never find a higher density of experienced Passage instructors than at the Lifetime pool.

CP