Rolling classes have really taken off in the last few weeks.  As the weather starts to warm up, we had a bunch of students beginning their progression packages, our basic program for learning to whitewater kayaking, and the rolling has been great.  Nearly all of our students have learned to roll in their first class dedicated to rolling(the second overall) and I really feel like I am well prepared for another great season of kayak classes.

Here are some basic hints to help you with your roll-

• It is all about the hipsnap.  Nothing else is even close to the hipsnap in importance to a sucessful roll.  If you have a great hipsnap, any errors in technique can easily be overcome.
• Get head and upper body close to the surface of the water before you begin rolling. The less distance this wieght has to move, the less power you need for your roll
• Use your paddle. You may have heard that you don’t use your paddle to roll – that is false.  First you use your hipsnap to flip your boat over, then you use your paddle to get your body out of the water.  If you use your paddle to flip your boat over(i.e. not hipsnapping well enough) you won’t be able to use your paddle to get your body up and you will not roll.
• Practice your bracing. Bracing, keeping your boat upright in the first place, is more important than rolling.  It is also a lot easier.  The better you bracing is, the more comfortable you are, the easier it will be to learn to brace.
• Hipsnap, hipsnap, hipsnap. If you are having trouble, work on you hipsnap.  It is 85% of your roll.

Still no luck?  Give me a call at 503.772.1122 and let’s talk about what is going on.

Regards,

Dave, Lead Instructor, Northwest River Guides

Me teaching a student at UNC-Greensboro to roll during the 2007 College Tour.