How to Roll a Kayak: A Short Guide for Beginners

Riding a kayak is fun but only if you know how to do it right. Otherwise, it can be frustrating. Worse, it can be unsafe if you are uninitiated!

While there are many techniques that you need to learn, one of the most important is how to roll a kayak. If you are paddling in calm water, rolling may not be as necessary. However, if you are a whitewater kayaker, rolling skill is a must!

Basically, rolling a kayak will let you recover from a flip. This will come handy when you are in rough water or when you lose your balance when paddling.

Fortunately, rolling techniques are quite easy to learn, even if you are a beginner. If you want to know how to do it right, keep on reading and learn from the insights we will be sharing.

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Roll a Kayak

This section will be broken down in different parts, depending on the specific roll type that you will have to perform in case the kayak capsizes.

The Sweep Roll

If you want to learn the proper way of rolling, the sweep roll is perhaps the first technique that you will be familiar with. Compared to the type of roll that will be mentioned later on, the sweep roll will require less setup and the paddle won’t end up being too deep in the water. This way, the paddle can also end up being more supportive. It is also faster and more dynamic compared to the other roll.

To do the sweep roll, below are simplified steps that you have to follow:

• To start with, you have to set-up for the roll. This is your starting position and will give you an orientation of the surface. To assume this position, make sure that you have a firm grip of the paddle. Control the paddle slightly forward with the blade flat on the water. Your forearms should be against the side of the kayak. Before you start, wait for your hands to feel the cool air.
• Swing the front blade of the paddle through the water, forming an arch away from the kayak
• Watch the blade while it is moving away from the direction of the water
• While applying downward pressure, rotate the paddle at an angle of 90 degrees
• As you feel that the paddle is nearing the required angle, snap the kayak below the body using your hips. You need to apply strength to the lower body to support the weight that you are trying to flip.
• Roll the body out of the water and back to the kayak

C2C Roll

This is the preferred method of rolling amongst many whitewater kayakers compared to what has been mentioned above. Even in rough water conditions, you can expect that executing this roll will be a true lifesaver. It is easier and more consistent compared to the sweep roll even if it requires more setup.

Below are the detailed steps on how you will be able to do the C2C roll the right way. To make this guide more comprehensive, we will be breaking it down into three components – set-up, catch, and recovery.

A: The Set-up

In a real-life situation, you have to assume the set-up position while you are already upside down. To be prepared, however, you can prepare by practicing these steps. The C2C roll setup position is the same with the set-up position in the sweep roll.

• Place the paddle alongside the kayak. The flat side of the blade should be facing the water
• Tuck the head and the body forward. At this point, your chin should be pressed against the chest
• Lean forward until the body is already submerged in the water.

B: The Catch

This is where you will grab water with the paddle for support as you move up. This is also the point when the C2C becomes different from the sweep roll.

• The first thing you should do is to move the blade of the paddle 90 degrees away from the kayak. This will give you the leverage to press the body against the water and get to the surface.
• To prevent the shoulders from being injured, make sure that you assume the power position. Meaning, as you swing the control arm to 90 degrees, the upper body should also rotate, keeping the hands in front of you. To be assured that you are doing this right, just follow the movement of the active blade away from the water.
• Using the other forearm, pivot against the bottom of your kayak.
• Next, do a hip snap. Simply put, you have to make use of your hip and the dominant knee side to get your body on the surface of the water. While you are rotating your body, keep the head and the shoulders in the water. Otherwise, if you lift them too early, the momentum can be lost.
• As you roll, keep your ear on your shoulder. The head should be the last part to get out of the water.

C: The Recovery

Once your head is already out of the water, below are the steps to follow:

• As you end your roll, have the knuckle rotated towards the back of your wrist. This will be instrumental in being able to easily regain your balance
• Clear out any water from the ears and eyes and catch up on your breathing until it has normalized.
• Once you are already on the top, shift the weight of the body forward. Resume paddling as you would normally do.

Pro Tips

Keep these things in mind to do the roll right:

• Keep calm. Do not panic once you have flipped. If you start panicking, you may be unable to remember the things that you have to do once you are underwater
• As it has been noted earlier, the head should be the last part to come out of the water. Your hips should be the first to be out. your shoulders should be next, and the head will follow
• Although you might look stupid with it when kayaking, if you are a novice, wear a mask or goggles. This makes it easier to flip the kayak since you can clearly see what is under
• Practice makes perfect. Keep on practicing the steps that have been mentioned above to roll out of the water safely

Wrap Up

Learning how to roll a kayak can be intimidating for a lot of people. Nonetheless, with patience and determination, it is easy to learn the basics. While it is not necessary to learn it for all kayakers, the techniques will come handy once you are confronted with an unfortunate situation.