Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

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Do you roll with your eyes open?

yes
18
36%
no
19
38%
I only roll half way.
4
8%
what? I paddle with my eyes closed!
6
12%
only if my first attempt doesn't work
2
4%
I paddle with a mask and snorkel
1
2%
 
Total votes: 50

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pmp
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Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by pmp »

Just curious how many people roll with their eyes open vs closed.
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Todhunter
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by Todhunter »

I never open my eyes underwater in any situation - I think it stems from some childhood fear of chlorine in pool water burning my eyes. Even though a river is chlorine free, everything's just too blurry to be of any help anyhow. I did wear a diving mask some when learning how to roll in a pool, and that was very helpful.
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TNbound
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by TNbound »

I always roll with em closed. Learned that way and now it is all just muscle memory.
I have, however, opened my eyes while being recirculated in a hole to try to figure out which way was up. That works ok, as long as you aren't too deep.
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KNeal
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by KNeal »

I wear contact lenses so opening my eyes underwater will certainly leave me pretty well screwed after I roll. :roll:

And Todd, here is something to add to your childhood fears. Think of all the organisms floating around in the chlorine-free river water that can swim around your eyeballs. :o

:lol:

:wink:

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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by cheajack »

Open like the top of the boat
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by drrpm »

Open. It helps with orientation and also allows you to see if there's something to grab and help roll after a missed attempt. I've been shoved up against rock walls and grabbed them to roll up a couple times where trying a paddle roll would not have been possible. I'm not above rolling off a buddies bow/stern either if they're within reach.
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arhdc
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by arhdc »

Closed I'm afraid.

I too wear contacts when paddling. Better to be able to see when upright without fogged gasses than to try to see underwater.
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by truckeeboater »

+1 on contact lenses. I've had situations where I've lost one but not the other, and boy does THAT spice things up a bit! :lol:
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TheKrikkitWars
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by TheKrikkitWars »

Open, I swim with eyes open underwater too (and avoid swimming indoors like the plague, lakes are just so much nicer)...

It can be mighty useful when you're getting a trashing and need to know when you're clear of the white bit, or when you're approaching an underwater obstacle (if fear gives men wings, shallow water looming gives us a snappy roll).
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Kelly-Rand
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by Kelly-Rand »

Open, like to see daylight. Doesn't have an effect on my roll though. I think rolling with your eyes closed is better for your concentration.

The real question is how many people use nose plugs? I don't cause I haven't found the right match for my nose.
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by jakke »

Open when needed, closed most of the times... .

Same goes for hole combat, if you're underwater for too long, it's interesting to see where the light and the air is located. :lol:
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Walsh
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by Walsh »

I generally roll with my eyes open, although I had to go to the river and go through the motions last night to see if this was still the case. I suspect that if I'm not relaxed enough to peek at where I am, I'm probably not relaxed enough to execute a roll.

I have lost exactly one contact in whitewater in ten years of boating. I have a stash of daily use lenses for the river, and they do a really nice job of staying put. Weldwood in the red can helps when they start to dry out a bit.
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keez
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by keez »

I learned to paddle in muddy rivers like the Credit, so opening your eyes was pointless.
I go by feel and muscle memory mostly, but have opened my eyes like jakke to assist in orientation.
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Yukon
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by Yukon »

Good question. Last winter in the pool it was one thing I focused on and found it to make a big difference. Opening my eyes and counting tiles on the bottom of the pool. I notice the difference in the river and lakes now and feel more relaxed and comfortable. It takes less time to set up, or do an underwater scull if I need to flatten the boat out to see where things are at instead of just feeling first. A lot of our water up here is pretty clear so can be pretty neat to see the bottom. Also a lot of paddling is in 2 feet of water so I want to see what is coming
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FullGnarlzOC
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Re: Do you roll with your eyes open or closed?

Post by FullGnarlzOC »

If your thinking about whats in the water, or seeing where body orientation is - ur already a step behind


muscle memory/instinctual is where its at imo.
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