She was
: much lighter and shorter and came from a white water background
: so getting up facing forward ie doing like c to c was the path
: she was taking us down. But when you're tall that's real hard to
: do.

Many teaching a roll, concentrate on the linear mechanics. Do this, then that, etc..

And don't define the whole concept that explains what the steps are trying to achieve.

Rolling is very simple.

Roll or spin the boat up and end by swinging your torso onto the deck.

Your torso must be on the deck to bring body weight as close as possible to the axis of spin AND accelerate the spin.

Whether the roll ends with your torso on the front deck or rear deck makes no difference. It's up to you, if you find it easier
to bend over backwards, or lean forwards.

In my experience teaching and watching people do a C to C roll, many do a C to J roll. That is, they muscle up, and don't end
by swinging their torso over the front deck. Once they roll like this, they think they have learned to roll. But unless they learn
to swing their torso over the deck, they will loose their roll when they are tired and can't "muscle" themselves up.

Rolling like this, is why many THINK a C to C roll is harder to do. If an instructor doesn't point out how important ending
with the torso over the deck is, it may be forgotten in the excitement of achieving the "first roll".

Once you understand the roll is all about spinning the boat and swinging your torso over the deck, what you do with the paddle
makes more sense.

Roll. Just do it!

All the best,
Rob