rolling and rescue workshops

Being able to roll and self-rescue gives us great confidence. However, I prefer to focus on how not to fall over, as rolling can become a blind ambition. However rolling is an art that will give you confidence and help you to become more relaxed in your boat.

Self-rescues are vital if you want to solo paddle, and assisting and being assisted back into your boat are really great skills. As a swimmer, you'll spend less time in the water and not get as cold if you can jump straight back in. In a group, it's really useful to know that I can call on fellow paddlers to help a swimmer. Any good team paddler will know what a heel hook is.

These rescue skills, in particular, can be frustrating to learn. My approach is to make it fun. Playing with the boat so that it becomes almost silly will leave you with far more understanding of where the balance points are, and just how much your body can achieve