How To Roll a Whitewater Kayak - DETAILED Overview

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for How To Roll a Whitewater Kayak - DETAILED Overview

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

joynthis - 8 years ago

Why is your kayak so short? Do you not have legs? Oops, I'm sorry, stubby paddlers are people too, nevermind.

John Housh - 8 years ago

Looking at your sweep roll technique, I saw it from a different perspective. It actually looks more like your paddle never moves, but the front of your boat rolls away from your body as you roll your hips. I also notice that you roll your chest towards the sky as your hips roll around, which I find allows for a much smoother, and powerful hip snap.

I really like the technique you show, but have a feeling many don't notice what makes it so smooth and effortless.

Steadyeddy - 8 years ago

What is the benefit for a sweep role vs. the other one?

John Housh - 8 years ago

The sweep roll doesn't require a fast hip snap, but more of a slow roll of the hips. It also gives you longer support and time to roll up.

The C to C roll can be broken down into more parts, so you do not have to coordinate as much at the same time. I also find behaves more like a brace, and teaches you a stronger hip snap, which can be beneficial to learning how to hand roll.

I started learning to sweep, but after a couple years, switched to more of a C to C roll with no setup.

Hoosh - 8 years ago

important points-
-let your eyes follow the blade
-HIPSNAP!!
-keep your paddle flat on top of the water

Todd Eckhardt - 9 years ago

I watched a few of your videos and think they'll be helpful. Just starting out in the sport (took one lesson). Any suggestions for the first kayak? I'm 6'1, 185lbs.
Thanks

HudsonMayhew - 9 years ago

New to paddling and tried to roll many times from instructions on video with other beginner paddlers and failed pretty hard, got it once and a blue moon but not well. finally got out with a more experienced paddler and all I was doing wrong on my sea to sea roll was getting caught under the edge of the boat making it hard to snap my hips and was also making my head come up to soon. My misconception came from the phrase "The goal is to get your head and body as close to the surface and far out to the side as far as possible". found that staying more centered in my boat and watching the control hand was the ticket for me.

artist1011000 - 10 years ago

I went kayaking for the first time and I did flip over. Luckly I was with my friend and his parents and they helped me. I did panic a little bit, but then I recovered. It was fun and refreshing because the water was cold.

Georgek117 - 10 years ago

Hey there Mark Wahlberg!

This was very useful, thanks!

kyakker73 - 10 years ago

Watch your paddle to maintain the right rotation and body position. Brilliant

10. comment for How To Roll a Whitewater Kayak - DETAILED Overview

matreya Southgate - 10 years ago

Also the length of the boat has little effect on rolling it, its the width that you are actually lifting up, so a narrow sea kayak will roll with less effort than a short wide play boat! especially as most play boats now have very boxy profiles, best boats to learn in are creek boats or old skool BAT's!

matreya Southgate - 10 years ago

This is has good detail, but he is showing two types or rolls, one where he sweeps the paddle to provide lift to roll off and one where he puts the paddle at 90deg to the boat and does a brace to come up off. Also many time his paddle is under the surface before he starts to roll. It makes your life so much easier if the blade is on the surface to start with. My preference is the sweep type roll as it gives you more time to come up, but that's down to preference!!

Dylan Gordon - 10 years ago

He should watch his right shoulder during the sweep role. Once your arm gets behind your body it dangourous so it is important to turn your body with the paddle to maintain the paddlers box

Tyler Van Kley - 11 years ago

I hate it when he says "out". Good video though.

Le Scamp - 11 years ago

This goes against anything I ever learnt.

leewilliams955 - 11 years ago

Good video it sure tells me that a instruction course is needed I was going to just go buy a sea kayak glad I watch this video cheers

Keelan Freeman - 11 years ago

I hav to do kayaking for activities week at school and we hav to do this but im scared that i will only do half of it and get stuck in the water and drown lol. This may sound silly but i am scared

alasdair geddes - 11 years ago

Most helpful video I've seen, thanks!

AnticsDesigns - 11 years ago

Thanks :P

Steve Wilson - 11 years ago

Good for you!

20. comment for How To Roll a Whitewater Kayak - DETAILED Overview

AnticsDesigns - 11 years ago

I found ollies extremely easy to get down, i could ollie onto a park bench in like an hour of learning it :P

Steve Wilson - 11 years ago

I compare this to trying to learn to ollie on a skateboard. It the building block to everything else and it's frustrating as hell to get down.

TYLER BRANK - 11 years ago

And make sure to always wear a helmet in the pool, and the paddle being used has no degree at all.

Jenny - 11 years ago

Rolling always seems easier in a short stubby lightweight boat. A 17 foot long sea kayak has more mass to rotate.

Alexandre Gerussi - 11 years ago

Great video showing a deep understanding of the roll. The tip given at the very end (finishing with the wrist cocked back and sweeping forward again) is extraordinary effective to finish the roll in a strong position.

Buffbud96 - 11 years ago

0:05 why does this guy sound like kipkay?

clive buckwaller - 11 years ago

notice his paddle has little or no feather to it. no brainer. what is feather for any way? wind resistance? not so sure i agree with mr ken on leaning a little forward or backward on the return. it allows for poor technique.

KamikazeKoscki - 12 years ago

Excellent!

Eben Baker - 12 years ago

i got a perception whiplash kayak and a fiberglass general use kayak for £140 for the two yestoday

KageKC - 12 years ago

Your average playboat brand new will be between $900-$1200, but if you are look around on local kayak club sites, or stuff like craigslist, you can often pick one that is 1-2 years old for $350-$600. However picking up a skirt/wetsuit/booties/gloves/helmet/pfd/throwbag/paddle/noseplug/goggles cost close to that of a used kayak too. So keep that in mind.

30. comment for How To Roll a Whitewater Kayak - DETAILED Overview

Carlos QLíS - 12 years ago

hi...can any one tell how much are these kind of kayak? please thanks

Ryan Clinton - 12 years ago

Try slapping your paddle blade on the surface of the water a few times before you sweep

tim schramm - 12 years ago

my problem is im not feeling the "catch" ive been a recreational kayaker for over a year and will kayak the local lake in any conditions. i have the ballance of a cat{no joke} ive never been rolled but ive praticed wet exits and can' Climb the ladder' very effectively. been attempting to roll for about a month now and took my first 'class' last week but im just not feeling it?? what gives? any tips??

Joseph Melia - 12 years ago

Great in depth (no pun intended) tutorial, I'm a complete novice but hope to learn at least one combat roll,in order to make the whole experience of kayaking ,safer for me ,and open up new areas of possibility should I succeed in learning how to roll properly. I'll be doing a course with an instructor to learn properly,but I find looking at a video as detailed as this can help clarify a lot of concepts... Thanks very much.