Dry land kayak roll practice technique. 

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.

This video taught me how to roll in essence... that and about 14 attempts at the bottom of a weir. I would highly advise giving it ago if you can't roll yet.

That forward facing arm acts like a martial art block, less chance of smacking your head on any incoming obstacles like rocks or underwater branches as well, good explanation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

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

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.

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 !

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.

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.

Great! This is one of the most efficient rolling training on hte ground.

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!

I have been diving my paddle in the EXACT way you describe, not understanding why. This helped make so much sense. I cannot wait to try! Tysssssm

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

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..

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 .

Thank you!! So important. I try to tell folks when I see them practicing the motion from an upright position. Your video is a perfect visual!

This was incredibly helpful! Thank you!

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.

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

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

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

Very Goodyear explanação. This Was the first time I saw anybody explaining out of water. Congratulations.

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

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!!!!!!!!

Great visualisation aid, many thanks.

This helped me visualize the movements involved more than any other video...Thanks

Looking forward to trying this on the water. I feel it answers some questions on what I was doing wrong the last time I practiced rolling.

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

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

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!

I have used this technique to teach all the beginners i have coached, and it is by far the best way to teach the roll. Have them drill this for 10 minutes, then 10 minutes of high-bracing with their paddle on your shoulder, and they will roll first time. 20 minutes for a solid roll.

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.

Great video! Very helpful. Thank you!

Really nice tutorial! Thank you for sharing

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.

Glad you like it Lee. I hope it helps.

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

That was really, really helpful. Thanks!

Fantastic, it's so clear how it's done thanks to your video. 😊👍👍👍👍UK

Thanks going to try this on the weekend

Very well, Simple and clear !!

This is great.....all teachers should employ this method before getting in the water for lessons

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

Thanks this is great, I can't wait to practice

Looks like a good way to practice the back deck roll without a paddle. From your last position if you just lean back and snap. I'm going to try it.

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.

Cool technik! Thanks!

Like the vid! Just need a canoe! Nah, I have one, but do I need the dog that can lick me like 'joynthis' who posted, says he has? Sure it would help with any wounds incurred, you know 'Licking the wounds'.... No really, I appreciated the idea of dry land rolling. Don't have swimming pool, rivers here pretty darn cold and all.....I love training so adding some dry land canoe training to all the other types, well variety is the spice of life after all! Keep well, enjoy your canoeing and life and....Good stuff!

Thanks, really helpful visualization.

one thing I would add is rolling the right wrist forward to make the blade climb out of the water during the sweep. You have decomposed the problem nicely.

that's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.

this made me get my roll thank you

Glad you like it. I hope it helps.

thanks for your good words. I hope it helps!

WOW GREAT VIDEO VERY EDUCATIONAL

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

Been having trouble linking up my sweep & hip snap timing, hoping this will help. Thanks for posting!

Yes I think u helped me get this down, I tried for the first time yesterday in the pool and the only problem I had is diving the paddle

Great, now i can start training. Thank's. :)

Simply amazing lol I can do this in my room, even sitting in a chair lol I can feel the drive from the hips and how it's going to be tomorrow

Great job!!!

Awesome video

A slight climbing angle on the paddle is important, too.

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

this helped a lot thanks

Very helpful thanks from Argentina

cool. I hope it helps!

Cool video. It almost looked like you could have rolled it all the way if you kept rolling toward the back deck. This is hard to visualize when to are upside down underwater so seeing on land make more sense.

This helped me get a reliable roll - thank you!

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.

awesome! Thanks.

Brilliant.

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 :)

Good video

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

Nice. I would suggest popping your right wrist to allow the blade to surface instead of dive during your sweep. Shouldnt you be able to roll on either side?

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.

Excelente ❤❤❤

Thanks 😊😊

This is great!! My only concern is I need to plug my nose when I go under or water goes right through, can this be done with one arm?

thank you

Excellent video. Interested in selling that paddle?

good point

Thank you from 2020

Great video, do you have any other ideas for land practice for the roll? Everytime I try at my local lake people rush over thinking I'm drowning and I feel bad stressing people out. Want to get better on land before heading back there so I'm not giving people heartattacks haha

I like it whats the next part!!!!!

What are you doing with your legs/ trunk to make the boat move? I'm just starting kayaking and i can't follow what you are doing....yet.

When did crocks start making Kayaks

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

I just got my first kayak but Emmy parents didn’t know what to look for and I think I got a kayak for white water and I’m a beginner so I need to learn more about them, I really want to get into paddle sports, I really need someone to teach me more about paddle sports

When you swing the torso, is it just pulling up on the hip that's on the same side as your paddle?

What happens if i do this with a sea kayak? Will it break my back or bones? Is it safe?

Yeah this makes sense

How do your lwgs fit in there? My knees stick out

want to try that thx

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