How to Roll a Kayak 

Thanks Kevin!

Thanks MOT! I only wish there were vids around when I taught myself so many years back. I'm sure you will get it bombproof soon! Thanks for watching!

I've had 3 pool sessions thus far. Last night I finally accomplished the roll, but lost it after a few rolls. After watching this, and the slow motion parts a couple of times, I hope that I'm able to remedy my problems. It's all a matter of muscle memory.

You got it. I literally don't even think about any of it anymore. I would roll for hours in my pond all summer. Most people are much better kayakers than rollers. I was a better roller than a kayaker for a long time. That allowed me to do rivers and rapids above my pay grade as I just would not come out of the boat. If you can get there, it will do more for your kayaking than anything else! But - I do remember the struggle to get there though!! Dont give up as it will all be totally worth it in the long run. It will all come together and you will never look back. Keep me posted!

Thx again. Tuesday night pool session I nailed every one except for when I got to close to the lane ropes. I was even standing, teaching a couple of people based off of your principles. I enjoy teaching in general, so it comez easy, especially when I have a, solid foundation to work with. Many thanks again

@@mot503 congrats and outstanding! You are very welcome! I also love to teach. The reason I make the videos! Thanks!

LOL! Thanks David!!!

That is what it is all about Wayne!! So stoked to hear that it helped!!

@@RiverKingsKayak I just wanted to give an update. This past weekend I went with a friend to a section of class 2 rapids that's popular for training up here in New Hampshire. When practicing at the bottom of the rapids, I failed to edge when crossing an eddy line and immediately found myself under water (you're absolutely right in your other videos where you say the river gives instant feedback to let you know you did something wrong 😂). I missed my first roll attempt (because I lifted my head), but set up again and was successful. This was my first "combat roll." I wish I could say I was successful in every roll that day, but later when I hit a rock and flipped in the middle of a strong class 2 section, I again missed my first attempt, found myself struggling to get into the setup position, and after the third boulder scraped across my back and felt one hit my helmet I realized that being upside down in that section of river was not a good idea, and I pulled the skirt and swam, my first swim in rapids. It was an interesting experience for sure, but I just kept my feet up at the surface and was able to swim out. I didn't let the experience overwhelm me and psych me out though. Before getting back in the rapids I took a few seconds and did three rolls to get the swim out of my head. This was my first class 2 river. All in all I had a lot of fun, and learned a lot from the experience, what to do, what not to do, and what I need to improve upon for next time. And there will absolutely be a next time. I signed up for a rolling class that a local shop (Outdoors New England) is running. I will most likely take the class more than once, because practice is paramount. Once I'm solid in my rolls, I'll practice in currents at a whitewater park that they built. THEN I'll be ready to take the trip back up to that section of river, because before this summer is through, I WILL make it down without a swim! Thanks again Pete. I owe my first combat roll to you! 🙂🙃😀

That is awesome!! Now we can dial that thing in for an every time combat roll! Congrats!

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks! I grabbed the sea kayak to learn in, I think next time I will bring the ww kayak. Just wondering..... are you able to roll a fully loaded sea kayak when you do overnight trips?

@@jeremiahdickson569 yes sir. No problem. The sea kayaks roll easier than we boats

That is what it is all about mroberts!! congrats and thanks for the encouragement!

We were all there once PA!! Hang in there! It will come!

thanks SD! hopefully it will help you nail that roll down!! keep me posted!!

@@RiverKingsKayak I took one rolling class session back in February and did not complete a roll without assistance. But just bought Zen 3 the other day and went out for first time and could not get a roll done. Was focused on C to C because that is what they taught us in that one session. Watched your video and went out a couple days later and rolled it five times!!!! Three in a row at end!! Thanks man!

@@spriggdude6195 thats what Im talking about!!

Right on Bashy! That is what it is all about!

Thanks Christopher! Hope it helps!!

Thats what Im talking about!!! Keep grinding!

Thanks a ton CDS! I just tried to make a video that I would have wanted to see when I was learning (before the RU-vid craze)...glad it is helping!

That is what it is all about Chris!! Thanks for the encouragement and congratulations!

Right on Adriana! keep after it!

Thanks a ton Pablo!!

Right on Rudolph! Thanks!

Connie Back thanks! I hope it helps you conquer the roll! It can be frustrating at first. I wish I had a video to watch way back when I was learning! Lol. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks Heather! Hopefully this will help you land your roll!

That was my thought exactly as I was watching this.

Thanks a ton Stefan!

Thanks!!!

Keep grinding Mirko! It will come!

@@RiverKingsKayak I will! Thank you! I push myself on our beautiful Oregon rivers and swim almost every weekend because of this. Hats off to my kayaking friends who put up with me:-)

Thanks Alexander!

You bet! Thanks!

Thanks Chris!

Thanks Pop!

Thanks HVC!

Right on Chip!

Thanks!

River Kings. Do you recommend wearing a pdf to just start learning to roll or wait?

@@whywouldntwe3 mind as well...no real difference in performance

Right on NYC PK!!

Thanks John!!

Thanks M M! Would love that!!!

Right on Graham! Thanks!

Thanks Isaac!

Thanks Todd!

Thanks AWAC

Right on Aaron!

Thank you pablo!

Thanks. Be patient with it. Sometimes it takes a little bit to master. If you stick at it, it will suddenly all come together.

I did it! Sweep with the back lean! Thinking of what you said while I was upside down about getting the boat under me and not me over the boat really helped! Hip snap, sweep, keep head down and boom up I came! Still a bit ugly and not 100% , but I'm on my way! Thanks for the insight - funny too! .

Right on!! Just stay on it and before you know it, it will be bombproof. Congrats! The first roll is a monumental achievement in the kayaking world. I'm glad the video helped!

Thanks gadget man!

Right on!

Thank you! Hope it helps!

Thanks maximilien!

Right on Wayne! Keep at it!

Thanks Bo!

Right on Austin! Hope the vid helps!

There is definitely a joy of resurfacing that never gets old!

@@RiverKingsKayak Had an awesome day today kayaking on the upper Colorado River in Colorado. Only issue was we had a stretch with a headwind which of course was not mentioned in the weather reports. Added to the exercise 😊

Yes, in fact, 2/3 of this video is dedicated to a sweep roll...

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks for mentioning that. Attention deficit and limited flexibility go hand-in-hand in my case.

Thanks PO!

Thanks CM! That was a Wavesport Project 56

Thanks wolf! Keep me posted!

​@@RiverKingsKayak thanks! Last friday I had a success of 100 % on the left side by sweeping.😊

Thanks for the kind word and the vote of confidence parsoniareigns! Though, I wouldn't consider myself as such...

Thanks Paul! Should be no issues on the machno! sometimes the playboats are harder...

the wonderingelectrician ha ha ha!!

Thanks Krystian!

The back deck roll can be done on any boat that can be skirted. The weight of the boat has more to do with things than the length on this one. While the short boats are a tad easier on this one, there should be no issues with a long boat. I have back deck rolled a 17' sea kayak before with no issues. Secondly, the heavy feather will actually provide more lift. The trick is to lay the paddle on the water splitting the angle between the two blades equally. A neutral paddle will provide much less lift but makes the off hand back deck much more possible.

It is def harder that direction! I left it out as most folks needing a roll video aren't ready for that one yet! LOL. But I guess, now I need to cover that! Thanks Rafael!

@@RiverKingsKayak I'm not ready for that one yet, but I have been looking at it and thinking about it for sure... Thanks for the reply!

Good deal! Looking forward to tomorrow

elbows in is a good rule to follow now matter what you are doing in kayaking...

It was a great boat, but I like my rockstar better.

Best question yet! Yes! I can roll a kayak without a skirt, but it is much harder and the bailing process between attempts would be very time consuming! Generally speaking, if you are not wearing a skirt, you are basically surrendering the ability to roll. I would def wear the skirt. Sometimes when I get hot, I forego the skirt as well while touring, but if any bigger water is in the near future, I always skirt up. Thanks 2dthoughts!

River Kings Thanks a bunch Hopefully in the next Couple weeks it will warm up enough here to get out in the pool a practice Definitely a skill I want to have to especially those days with heavy chop on the lake 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Yes. On all counts. I do normally a hybrid sweep C2C type of roll. With a true sweep roll you basically skull your blade across the top of the water the entire way to the back deck of kayak. For me it leaves my face a little too exposed for whitewater environments. So I have modified and found my own personal style with some sort of hybrid thing. I have practice every role known to man over the years and it's important to master each one because you never know which one might be the best one. However, most people generally stick with one style of role for 90% of everything they do. It's a matter of finding something that works for you, that feels good and that you're confident with. Perhaps I should do a video really explaining all the different kinds of roles I can think of. Hope this helps!

River Kings Definitely! Thanks for the response. My roll is great. My mental game not so much. I really have to learn to hang in there. Something touches my head - I pull Feel the boat going up and down - I pull

You are not alone. Often that mental game is the hardest part to get. Just try to slow it all down. I have channel dredged class 4 and 5s on occasion where you are just getting trashed by rocks and pounding current. However, swimming almost always makes things much worse. You just gotta hang in there and wait for that moment. It will come.

Ifvyou can lock your knees under the deck, you can roll it

@@RiverKingsKayak I can lock my knees, but rolling it may be interesting. lol We just got our pool opened. I may have to give this a try......Famous last words!

@@KentuckyWoodsman be sure to film it all!

Thanks Hans! the answer is yes...I do that all the time in the Yukon with my nylon skirt. It will let a bit more water in, but one can still roll no problem! ...that is, as long as the skirt fits pretty snug and doesnt implode...only one way to find out! LOL

@@RiverKingsKayak do you use the seals sneak zippered spray skirt ?

@@HanzgohFilms on my touring boat yes...

@@RiverKingsKayak perfect. So you’d recommend it for my Carolina ? So I can start working on roll

@@HanzgohFilms for sure! As long as it stays on, it will do just fine!

mba2ceo yes, definitely.

I dont think so. The longer smoother boats are generally easier. Most ww boats are negligably different though...just keep pounding, it will come.

I have a remix and learned to roll in it - I love it. This is a great tutorial - do just like he says and remember - when you're under - visualize your boat going under you, keep head down and sweep - boom!

Marco Esquandolas i would always say never kayak alone just in case something goes wrong

Be safe!

Hey Sam, it is the loop you pull to release the neoprene skirt from the kayak when you want to exit the boat.

@@RiverKingsKayak ok I’m a beginner so I didn’t know but thank you for telling me

@@user-qh8nb9zl7q You bet!

Right on!

A lot of pros use that roll almost exclusively. You can protect your face with your right arm as you do it. Also it is by far the fastest roll so exposure is reduced in that regard. That being said, It does expose your face much more than the standard tuck.

Dont give up!!

Good points corpsman. I have never liked it and most of those I teach find it awkward. But you are right, I should have done one for the viewer to see and whatever gets you upright is good!

I'm sure...