Life is one long process of getting
tired. Samuel Butler.
When I first starting trying to learn
to eskimo roll my sea kayak, I saw the whole thing as a relatively
brief journey (at least I hoped it would be brief) to a fixed end
point. Sure, I would occasionally roll once or twice every few weeks
to keep my hand in, but basically, I'd get this bomb-proof roll and
I'd be done. Box for eskimo roll checked, time to move on.
More and more, I've realized that, at
least for me, learning to eskimo roll is a process, and a long one at
that. Mentally, this never ending journey is taxing as no practice
session ever ends with any sense of completeness. If I have a good
day and get a bunch of rolls I am fearful that I will fail next time.
If I have a bad day, and don't get any rolls, I fret endlessly over
what I did wrong, how I can correct my errors, and when I can get out
and try again.
Doug performing a fish rescue after my unsuccessful rolling mission
As you have probably guessed by now,
after executing a series of successful rolls last Sunday, I didn't
get a single roll today. What changed? I'm not sure. I definitely
felt all crunched up and tight, and as soon as I set up and started
the sweep I could see that I had a problem as my paddle blade kept
diving under the water. But, try as I might, I could not get the
paddle blade to stay on the surface. Something in my mechanics was
all wrong, but what?
After about a dozen failed attempts I
quit for the day. Quitting for me is harder than continuing to try,
but, I have learnt that there is nothing to be gained, and much to be
lost, by grooving in the wrong movement patterns. In hindsight, I
think I should have quit after two unsuccessful rolls, instead of
persisting for another ten. But, if there is one thing I have in my
favour on this long and seemingly endless journey, it is the ability
to persist.
Paddling back from Double Island
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