Rolling a kayak to recover from turning turtle is a safety maneuver kayakers should master if they don’t want to have to make a wet dismount under their upside-down kayak. The ease of rolling a kayak is both a plus for maneuverability and a problem for the amateur trying to stay upright. Learning to roll a kayak is best done in a warm pool with about 4 feet of water and a patient teacher/spotter along to help learn the odd, counter-intuitive movement.
Step 1
Enter the water with the paddle tightly drawn against the side of the kayak. Bring your head and body down to the deck of the kayak toward the side of the kayak going into the water. Keeping the body and head close to the kayak allows a quicker roll and keeps your head from sticking down far enough to hit a rock in rough water.
Step 2
Bring one end of the paddle out of the water on the exit side (whichever side you are turning towards), with the momentum of the roll. Sweep the paddle under the water toward the side you are turning from while the opposite side of the paddle comes down on the top of the water on the side you are turning toward.
Step 3
Perform a hard hip snap in the direction of the roll, which should bring the kayak upright with your head the last to leave the water. Your head is also being used as leverage, prying against the water with your paddle steadying you as the spin of the roll brings your head up. Having a buddy/teacher at your side can give you something to pry against at first until you get the hang of the motion.
Step 4
Steady the spin to keep from repeating the maneuver unintentionally by an opposite hip snap and steadying with your paddle. Make sure you are all the way through the roll before taking any opposite or steadying action.
Tips and Warnings
- Try each individual movement: entry set up, sweep, hip snap and recovery separately before putting them together with a buddy spotting.
Things You'll Need
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Personal floatation device
- Pool or shallow water
- Buddy
- Helmet
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