I've had a number of ear issues in the past 2 years, possibly related to rolling in cold water. I've got a set or two of Docs ProPlugs (link below). They're like $9 a pair and you can get them at any diving shop or online. I don't typically use them in rough water "just in case" I capsize because they do muffle sound a bit and are a bit of a pain to mess with. But recently if I'm intentionally planning to practice my roll in cold water I'll try to remember to put them in.

Do they work? Hard to tell really until I go back to the ENT to see if they've been effective. I've never had a problem with the feeling of cold water in my ears and the Docs ProPlugs don't appear to offer a 100% waterproof seal (they have a tiny hole in the middle so you can hear). What they do is cut down on the evaporative cooling in the wet ear canal that can apparently contribute to exostosis (I was told I have a mild amount of exostosis in one ear by an ENT I saw last year).

I used to be a bit of a rolling fanatic, it was rare that I didn't roll 5 or more times on a day paddle regardless of the season. So it's certainly possible that 15 years of that behavior contributed to my recent ear issues, a few ear infections in 2010/2011. Who knows. To cut down on the wind over the ears, I've tried just wearing a winter head-band. Seems to help. Easier than plugs and less likely to lose. (Would hate to lose a $200 pair of custom ear plugs!) Also, if you're just going to use them occassionally for winter rolling practice, perhaps save your money and get those foam or silicone disposable ones at CVS. They'll keep water out, and you can remove them afterwards if you need to hear anything. Actually the best thing I ever did was bring my dive mask along to roll in the dead of winter - keeps water off the eyes and out of the sinuses.

Be interested to hear what the Greenland rolling junkies would say to all this, expect they'd be the guinea pigs to test the theory. They are plenty of rolling junkies in Connyak who roll more than I do certainly.

http://www.proplugs.com/