Customer Reviews

The Bombproof Roll and Beyond

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Bombproof roll and beyond is an essential book for any novice or intermediate kayaker. This book does and excellent job of explaining through both text and illustrations the different steps involved in just about any roll imaginable (c to c, sweep, back deck, hand roll). It also provide excellent tips for identifying and correcting problems with rolls. An outstanding book. An essential in any kayaker's library.

I bought this book around the time it first came out about nine years ago or so. Not only is it useful for learning the kayak roll, the author also covers "old school" playboating maneuvers such as wave surfing, side-surfing in holes, 360's, enders, and pirouttes. The illustrations are diagramatic and especially helpful. Rolling techniques included are the "C-to-C" or snap roll, the sweep roll, back deck rolls, hands rolls as well as rolling stategies and exercises. Definitely one of the most helpful kayaking technique books I have read.

this book taught me to roll, on my own, no instructor. derek hutchinson's book is a classic but dutkey's is an instruction manual.
personal creed: if you cant roll, don't go further than you can swim to shore. ergo, if you sea kayak, buy this book.
forget the pawlata, it's impractical. go for the sweep roll and relish the freedom having a bombproof roll brings to your paddling.

Kayaking is a very complex sport. Paul does a great job of breaking down complex manoeuvers into their basic elements, and provides suggestions for drills on how to improve skills in these areas. I have been kayaking for several years (intermediate level), but even in the first few chapters I gained insight on things I could improve. I recommend this book for any kayaker, from the extreme novice to the expert. Even if you can do the things that Paul describes....he will help you understand HOW you do them; thus begins the journey to enlightenment and improvement.....

I can echo the comments of the other reviewers of this book. It is very well written, clear with very practical and useful drills. I am a sea kayaker so some of the material will not apply, but with that said I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the forces behind a good roll and various braces and who wishes to accomplish rolls in the most efficient manner. I wish us sea kayakers could get Paul interested in longer boats, choppy seas, and beach waves. We need his expertise.

The Bombproof Roll and Beyond contains some key elements on learning how to roll. I already have a bomproof roll, but reading this book gave me a few more techniques that I would not have otherwise had. There are interesting tips later in the book on hole escapes and hole rolling.

Although this book is better oriented for the beginner, the nature of the information is of great use to experienced paddlers as well

This book was actually my first ever Amazon.com purchase almost 10 ago. It is a must have for anyone new to the sport of kayaking and just getting down the art of the bombproof roll, something essential for Class 4 whitewater or greater. This is a book with excellent illustrations and in-depth explanations, which allow one to visualize how a specific roll is done, even if there is nobody there showing you first-hand. This book has it all: the regular Eskimo roll, the two-handed roll, the one-handed roll, and even the no hands roll. And even non-roll techiques are presented here, such as wave surfing. Practically whatever you want to learn, it is in this book.

I heartily recommend this......a must-have to anyone new to the sport.

I bought this book for my boyfriend, he has been using it for months and frequently goes out to practice what he has learnt from the book. He has become a skilled padler and almost everthing he has learned has come from this book. Its the best gift I ever bought for him.

This book has lots of rolling infomation and presents information on several styles of hand rolling. The book also covers more advanced info on escaping holes and rolling in currents.

I think Ken Whiting's book does a nicer job though for someone who's primarily interested in playboat or surf kayak rolling. He presents more up to date information on setup in playboats and better "debugging" information. As one who formerly had a bombproof roll in an old style 13 ft boat but who has been inconsistent recently in new boats, his information and exercises where just what I needed to bring back effectiveness and confidence.

I teach rolling lessons on a weekly basis and I purchased this book because I am always trying to find new drills to use with my students. I find the more I watch other people teach and read about rolling the better teacher I become.

This book was not helpful to me at all. I am proficient at each of the rolling methods described in the book and half the time I still couldn't make sense of what the author was trying to explain. I found myself having to pause and really think about things before the passage I was reading would click. I could only follow because I have the background knowledge to know what he is trying to get at. I can't imagine being a beginner and trying to teach myself how to roll based on this book.

Note that most of the 5 star reviews from this book are several years old. Paddling has changed a lot since '93, the copyright on my book. I would recommend a EJ's rolling and bracing as a much more up to date alternative to this book.