Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

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Most popular comments
for Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

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Ron Gentle - 6 years ago

Thank You , Finally someone who actually explains the roll in detail on dry land ! This makes every move easier to understand and apply . You are a teacher !

planetmango - 6 years ago

Ron Gentle Thanks, Ron! I hope it helps. Remember, just watching this doesn’t do much. Practice the correct motion so it’s automatic when you need it.

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

So should/does the blade side that's doing the slicing feel any resistance?

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

Nice one mate, I will try it as soon as I can get some friendlier weather, thank you for the advice :-)

planetmango - 7 years ago

Boris Achenbach Different dynamics. You don’t want a downward pull with the sweep roll. There is likely to be a little, but hopefully VERY little. Try my demo on the ground and initiate the sweep. No downward motion. You will feel the boat start to rotate with no downward motion. Feel the opposite knee trying to roll the boat under you. That is what rolls the boat, not so much the paddle. They call it a hip snap, but it’s more the pressure from the opposite knee that does the magic. Downward paddle motion will kill the sweep roll.

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

I mean the downward pressure during the sweep roll is applied during the actual sweep, rather than the direct pull down as used in the c to c? Thank you for all your kind help.

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

I fully intend to do so, and also practice using a paddle float on the water. I will just have one more question for you, you know the catch phase that is used on the C to C Roll, when the individual pulls the paddle down on the water to lift the boat (in conjunction with the hip flick), this same pulling down process isn't done in the sweep roll process is it? The Catch Phase for support during the sweep roll comes from the long sweep with a slightly upward angled powerblade? Is that correct?

planetmango - 7 years ago

Boris Achenbach I highly suggest doing some practice sessions like this on the ground. That will be a great help in getting the physical feel for the movement that starts the roll. But DO NOT try to actually roll the boat over on the ground. That can’t be done without pushing down on the paddle, and that’s the exact wrong thing to do.

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

Thank you for the instructions, will give that a go :-), more or less teaching myself and want to get all the steps right first.

planetmango - 7 years ago

Correct. Your hands need to twist the paddle shaft maybe 1/4 turn so the blade is either flat or slightly climbing. Think of your wrist(s) being bent in an L shape.

Boris Achenbach - 7 years ago

So there is a slight climbing angle on your power blade as you sweep out followed by a catch phase? Just trying to get my head around it all, as the c to c has a kind of downward catch phase.

planetmango - 7 years ago

Ideally, very little. The idea is to have that front blade well above the water surface (keep the back arm tucked in) . That reaching up jump starts the boat moving in the direction that will roll it under you. So, reach high then sweep the paddle.

Pablo Enrique Tirabassi - 7 years ago

Very well, Simple and clear !!

DON CARLEONI - 7 years ago

Thankyou so so much I've learnt so much from this video and I'm an intermediate so having the nerve to attempt the roll on my own with no one around as always been an issue but I'm happy to try and give it a go now
Much appreciated

planetmango - 7 years ago

Excellent, Carl. Good luck, and get some help if you need it. Most often a set of knowledgable eyes watching can be very helpful.

BMW S1000 - 7 years ago

Just took my first kayak roll class last nite at a swimming pool,,, and I am frustrated. I really need to learn this. and I feel like It going to be a long road for me. This video makes great sense . I will practice and keep at it. ahhhhh!

planetmango - 7 years ago

BMW S1000 Here's another very good video to check out: https://youtu.be/YlgKotwHzSY

planetmango - 7 years ago

BMW S1000 It can be pretty counterintuitive, especially upside down under water. I was such a slow learner in the beginning, and that's why I made this video. If you actually do this rather than just watch it, I think it will help. It's worth the effort!!! Good luck...

BMW S1000 - 7 years ago

holy shit,, I learned alot from that. just understanding the hip movement etc. awesome video!

Mirko San San - 7 years ago

This was incredibly helpful! Thank you!

zxcvbnm8817 - 7 years ago

Awesome presentation and great ability of transferring your knowledge, thanks!

Emmanuel mahieu - 7 years ago

Hey ! Great video man but when you say "just with hand and torso the boat begin to roll", I think it's maybe because you push on the ground at the same time with your shoulder. But when you are in a river, water will be not hardest as the grass.
But whatever I've the same technic and it's good so....
Bye. And sorry if I made any mistake. I'm just french so I don't speak very well :)

10. comment for Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

Dave Grainger - 8 years ago

Looks like the paddle blade angle would make it dive. Other than that it's a good exercise.

planetmango - 8 years ago

thanks. yes, you should have the correct paddle angle, but the sweep out across the surface, not to the bottom of the river is the main point.

Kayak Life - 8 years ago

You are not maintaining a paddlers box. I would disagree with the modeling. It's very close.

De Evolve - 8 years ago

can these rolls be effective for those not using a skirt?

De Evolve - 8 years ago

planetmango TY

planetmango - 8 years ago

No roll is going to be very easy or effective if you don't use a skirt to keep the water out of the boat. A roll can MAYBE be done if your skirt pops off. I wouldn't count on it unless you already have an VERY solid roll.

Life 4 Pancakes - 8 years ago

Before I was able to roll back up only by holding the paddle in my right hand on the level of the water. It seems very inconvenient so I wanted to find better way and I hope I will be able to get it tanks to this video. I'll try this out on Wednesday. I can't wait!

joynthis - 8 years ago

I tried this in the yard, and now I can't get up. The dog is licking me. Help.

planetmango - 8 years ago

Best comment ever! Well, I just hope you picked up the dog poop in the yard before you tried this! ;-)

Jeff Robinson - 8 years ago

This helped me get a reliable roll - thank you!

planetmango - 8 years ago

That's awesome, Jeff! Thanks for letting me know.

أحمد فهد الشكَرة - 8 years ago

Thanks for being a great instructor. Will start practicing on dry land this week. Tried practicing in the sea, but was a bit overwhelmed with everything for the first time.

Russel Greene - 8 years ago

want to try that thx

Ronnie Murphy - 8 years ago

Very good instructions, perfect body mechanics, but the paddle should be slightly angled to rise to the surface. Without this angle of the paddle blade it could cause the paddle to dive deeper and hinder the roll. If the paddle is kept near the surface at all times, the amount of effort is minimized. This is corrected by either cocking the risk inward when beginning the row uncocking as the row progresses or by starting with a slight twist to the blade by rotating the grip counterclockwise in the right hand for a right hand roller or slightly clockwise in the left hand for the left side roller. I hope this helps someone having trouble reaching the complete rise to the surface. Also remember to keep your head down, until the last thing. If you are still having trouble with the head, try keeping in mind to keep your head and right knee together as you are rolling. Visa versa for the left side, head to left knee.

Josh Gundlach - 8 years ago

Paddle angle will we a diving angle never a climbing angle when rolling.

planetmango - 8 years ago

+Ronnie Murphy Thanks! I've gotten some great comments on this video from folks who have had success with it. It's great for getting the basic movement without getting water up your nose! Being upside down under water can be confusing and very counter-intuitive for many people. I've been paddling for almost 25 years, but I was one who struggled with this a lot in the beginning. It seems I still need to give myself a tuneup with this technique a couple of times a year. Thanks again.

Ronnie Murphy - 8 years ago

+planetmango Yes, your instructions are excellent and in excellent form. I just wanted to add these thing just in case someone is still struggling. Not all people have the problem of the blade angle and if they follow your instruction, they should get the rest down easy. I for one had the blade problem, that is why I'm making suggestions. It is by no mean to say you did not include enough. It was the best I've seen at out of the water instruction and it was very clear to understand. Keep up the good work. I know you're helping at lot of people. Thank you. You are well appreciated.

planetmango - 8 years ago

+Ronnie Murphy I agree with all you said. My point, and my observation of many who struggle with their roll, is that things go immediately wrong because they don't sweep away from the boat and across the surface of the water. So many of us dive the paddle not so much because of the wrong paddle angle, but because they are actually pulling the paddle down rather than sweeping across the surface. So the point I'm making is to ingrain the muscle memory of sweeping out and away from the boat, and across the surface. If you get that part right, there's a MUCH better chance you will be successful. Thanks for your comment!

Hans Streubel - 9 years ago

very intuitive instruction. Every new kayak paddler should have a look on this video

planetmango - 9 years ago

+Hans Streubel Thank you, glad you like it!

20. comment for Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

Robyn Hill - 9 years ago

Thanks going to try this on the weekend

Jordan Fields - 9 years ago

Got my first WW Kayak 2 months ago..first try prior to seeing this video I failed awfully!!!!!!! Watched ur video tried the dry practice now i got my roll 100percent in flat water......thank you so much I feel like ur video did it for me!!!! Ur a great guy for taking the time to do that for people!!!!!!!!

planetmango - 9 years ago

+Jordan Fields I'm really glad it helped!! Good luck!

Richard Lamoureux - 9 years ago

Great video, this will definitely help with my off side roll and bomb proof my sweep. Sure will help build confidence after the last swim on the Ocoee! Thanks a bunch

TheMuleCock - 9 years ago

This looks like an awesome method to try. My roll is either 100% or 20% depending on the day. Just the other day, I was rolling like a mad man, the next I was getting t-rescued or swimming.

google++ - 9 years ago

tremendously helps my roll, that elbow pivoting is the key.

Stefan Carey - 9 years ago

Should the hip snap start when you are 90 degrees to the boat?

planetmango - 9 years ago

+Stefan Carey With the sweep roll, the boat should start rotating under you immediately when you start the sweep with your paddle. Your opposite side knee should be engaged and starting to rotate the boat under you right from the beginning. The so-called "hip snap" should FINISH around the time your paddle is at 90º to the boat, but that finish can feel like you snapped the boat under you at the end. Try it in your back yard a bunch of times to get the feel, then head for some water to practice. Hope that helps.

Mike festiva - 9 years ago

Thanks for this video! I tried it on land and got it down, Next I will try it in the water.

Laureen Peddemors - 9 years ago

I think that is is awesome! Thanks for the visual!

Tim Kinsey - 9 years ago

I have been doing this practice and it was hard at first but I got it now and i can do it a good ammount of times in a row.

Stefan Carey - 10 years ago

Excellent, thank you. I'll try this out and let you know how I go.

30. comment for Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

spurber - 10 years ago

awesome! Thanks.

Will Dutson - 10 years ago

Great visualisation aid, many thanks.

aarbag007 - 10 years ago

My partner "had" been working on her roll for a while before we gave this technique a shot. The second night at the lake after trying this... success!!!! She said what this did for her, a bit of an epiphany moment, was that it pieced together what a total body movement a roll is. It showed just how active the lower body is and basically what a hip snap feels like. The smile on her face was EPIC! Thanks for the tips and great video, I highly recommend this exercise to anyone who keeps being told "snap your hips!!!" and has no idea what the other person means.

planetmango - 10 years ago

That's so great to hear!! Glad it helped, and thanks for letting me know!!

Tracker Productions - 10 years ago

I'm just learning and I love this dry land technique for learning the basic moves.

Zoey Zaleta - 10 years ago

Sir, I am a complete dumbass when it comes to spatial relations. This "deficiency" has been hindering my roll for ages, because I can't translate instructions given above the water to what's going on (or what's supposed to happen) when I'm upside down. This is EXACTLY what I needed to see! Will keep you posted on progress, but I do believe you've just given me the info, visual, AND confidence I need to celebrate a big victory! Thank you!

Tim Cummings - 10 years ago

I have been practicing in a pool for 4 months, tried this method last week and got 9 out of 10 rolls right in my next pool session, thanks.

planetmango - 10 years ago

Hey, that's great !! Thanks for letting me know, and I'm really glad it helped!

chesky baba - 10 years ago

Planetmango, it seems the paddle is just slicing through the water - shouldn't the blade be rotated to a more resistant position - like 90 degrees?

Keeler Brunet - 10 years ago

Okay, thanks for the help!

planetmango - 10 years ago

+Keeler Brunet Of course the paddle plays a part, but in this type of roll, the paddle is sort of like a sweeping brace. Your torso, hips and legs are what primarily roll the boat under you while you do the sweeping motion with the paddle.

Keeler Brunet - 10 years ago

So what you are saying is that the paddle doesn't really play a massive part in bringing you upright??

chesky baba - 10 years ago

Ok, thanks, I'm gonna give this a try.

planetmango - 10 years ago

the blade is supposed to slice/skim across the surface of the water, basically with no resistance from the blade, blade nearly level with the surface of the water. the main thing I'm trying to get people to understand is that the common motion that we've all seen and done while upright will pull the paddle to the bottom of the river. The paddle and blade need to skim out and away from the boat and across the surface. if you do that and have your knee engaged, you can rotate the boat back under you and paddle away.

James Tatley - 10 years ago

this made me get my roll thank you

planetmango - 10 years ago

way to go, James!! thanks for letting me know!!

Tom Ahola - 10 years ago

Great technique! Then just add water,,, here is how I did: Kayak pool excercise in Helsinki 2014

Laurent Boquet - 10 years ago

Nice vid and good tips. Hope your neighbors know about kayak and rolling because they may call 911 or the local psychiatric unit if they see you through the fence.

Erin Clay - 11 years ago

This is the technique that made the difference in getting my roll. I had been diving my paddle and practicing that exact movement he talks about in the beginning of the video. I just didn't understand what was going wrong; my paddle didn't stay on top of the water! Well I saw this, went out to the backyard and did it a few dozen times. Viola, went to the river and nailed my roll.

wildstallionsoul - 11 years ago

This is a brilliant technique to clearly understand the mechanics of a roll and how it works. It really helped me with teaching newbies who can't roll. Thanks for that!

planetmango - 11 years ago

Thanks for letting me know about your success with this, Alden!! That's awesome!!

Aiden Brennan - 11 years ago

Excellent tutorial, simple and to the point, after practicing this at home on the floor then went out and got the roll after my 3rd attempt, this is after bad advice like the begining of your video pulling the paddle under the kayak, frustrated and had given up on my roll untill I came across this video. I'm now using this method to coach other people, its amazing how quick people understand and pick up their roll using this training technique, simple, brilliant and thanks.

Ttechnicolor - 11 years ago

this helped a lot thanks

Scott Puthoff - 11 years ago

Nice video explaining one of the things I've had a hard time explaining to new boaters above the water.

planetmango - 11 years ago

I know of two brand new paddlers - never been in a kayak or on a river before - who last summer hit multiple combat rolls on their first outing after being coached in this technique. I also have a friend who had the most messed up failed roll ever. I taught him how to practice this and he went home and practiced it on his deck. Using nothing other than this technique, he fixed his roll completely on his own. He now has a reliable roll, where before he was about to give up on kayaking.

planetmango - 11 years ago

So many people are going to do that bad dry land technique in the beginning of the video, and that is a hard very habit to break once it's ingrained. So, while this demonstration may not be perfect, I know this technique has value to some paddlers. It really does help to ingrain the body memory of what to do once you're upside down in the water.

Sandra David - 11 years ago

I intend to practice this, since it's the start and sweep that create my roll problems. I have to respectfully disagree with the comment that this focus is on the paddle; I find that the focus is actually torso rotation, aided by how the paddler's upper torso is actually moving. Which then has to be transferred to the knees. As noted, this can't be done on the ground and is beyond the scope of this video.

H2o Dreams - Paddlesports Education - 11 years ago

Excellent tutorial and great emphasis on the common mistake when learning!

50. comment for Dry land kayak roll practice technique.

Chipper Maney - 11 years ago

and oh yeah, learn how to roll on both sides.

Chipper Maney - 11 years ago

i think he needs to have his wrists cocked more, or the paddle will dive, in addition both hands should be at least level with the rail; this guy's front hand would be well below water surface. in addition, to much focus on the paddle instead of the hip snap. the ground prevents a hip snap, so this guys just pushes the boat away and ends up on the back deck. this video cover about 25% of the roll (set up, paddle sweep) and could lead to some bad habits. but sure, that's the sweep motion.

123z3000 - 11 years ago

I always thought that.... but never was able to articulate it. super. Video. FIRST TIME SOMEONE actually pointed out the mistake so vividly.. Well done

RNDAC2005 - 11 years ago

Brasil

Kevin McCubbins - 11 years ago

Excellent....thanks for including how not to and why

planetmango - 11 years ago

Glad you like it. I hope it helps.

planetmango - 11 years ago

Glad you like it Lee. I hope it helps.

Spartacus2809 - 11 years ago

The point made about how paddlers practice the wrong move at the start of the video is so true . Great video . Easy to understand and bound to improve rolling ability . Thanks for posting .

Lee Berrill - 11 years ago

Thanks that's a great help I'm going to try that at home

Maxime Chartrand - 11 years ago

good point

planetmango - 11 years ago

thanks for your good words. I hope it helps!

planetmango - 11 years ago

cool. I hope it helps!

Tom Clarke - 11 years ago

Definitely one of the best videos for showing people what actually happens when you roll! This shows how important the sweep is! I will show this to those learning to roll in the future..