This new DVD from Justine is sure to create some smooth ripples in the rolling community. Smooth? Yep, proper rolling (Greenland stick, euro paddle, whatever) hardly ever creates splashes :-)
My first close encounter with Greenland rolling was during my attendance of the DelMarVa Paddler's retreat in 2004 where I met Cheri, Turner and Dubside for the first time.
From that moment onwards as a sea kayaking coach I had my mind on how to 'introduce' Greenland rolling mindset into the Euro-style community without being alienated from either of them. This DVD bridges that 'gap' that I could never achieve other than in my personal approach to coaching rolling and still learning...
A rolling 'revolution' that for once won't have a chance of turning into a war.
As a coach my one and only 'worry' with this DVD is that viewers might by-pass the Greenland paddle altogether and then the main culprit of rolling (relying on the blade) won't be unlearned. The DVD stresses the 'body mantra' time and time again, however is the viewer who has never been (coached) rolling with a Greenland paddle (or even no paddle at all) ever able to feel where the 'secret' lies?
Back in 2004 my mouth fell open when I saw for the first time the straightjacket roll as performed by Pavia Lumholt. In this DVD there is a small bit of footage where that mouth fell open again; a brief glimpse from just the right camera angle; unveiling for me the secret of how the straightjacket roll can exist and 'physically' possible relying on body motion only.
P.S. The DVD does not cover the straightjacket roll, however that 'lay-back' roll's physics which IS covered, is exactly the same when one only scratches the surface with whatever is in hand.
Simon Willis wrote a comprehensive review of This is the Roll.
