Kayak roll

The Kayak Roll (often referred to as an "Eskimo roll") is the act of uprighting a capsized kayak by use of body motion and or a paddle. Typically this is done by lifting the torso towards the surface, flicking the hips to right the kayak halfway up and applying a righting force by means of the paddle while tucking close to the front or back deck.

Contents 1 Use 2 Types of Roll 3 Common rolls 3.1 C-to-C 3.2 Sweep Roll 3.3 Hand roll 3.4 Canoe Roll 3.5 Back Deck Roll 4 Elements of a Sweep Roll 4.1 Initial or Setup Position 4.2 Sweep 4.3 Hip Flick or Hip Snap 4.4 Ending or Final position 4.5 Keeping the Head Low 5 References 6 External links

Use

Several styles of Kayak roll are in use including the C-to-C, Sweep, Screw, Extended Paddle (Pawlata) and hand roll. The roll styles in use vary both regionally and by type of kayak. In the USA, the C-to-C has traditionally been taught in the eastern half of the country while either the older screw or more modern sweep roll have been used in the western half. Mastering the roll usually requires both instruction and practice. A reliable roll is key to improving both the fun and safety level of both whitewater and sea kayaking. It is possible to perform a roll in certain kinds of canoes, provided the canoeist is strapped in and provided that the canoe is of a rollable hull profile and uses floatation bags and/or a spraydeck. Rolling a canoe is considerably harder than a kayak, especially in a tandem canoe where the upright motion requires precise coordination between the canoeists.

Types of Roll

There are two general classifications of rolls - brace rolls and sweep rolls.^[1] Brace rolls are those that primarily use bracing actions of the paddle, hand or other device to provide righting moments for the paddler. Sweep rolls primarily use sweeping motions with the paddle, hand or other device. An example of a brace roll is the C-to-C, as described below. The Screw roll is an example of a sweep roll.

Common rolls

There is a large number of kayak rolls. Some are traditional rolls developed in the Arctic by Inuit, Aleut and Eskimo, while others are modern and have been developed by participants in the sport. The following are a few commonly taught and practiced rolls.

C-to-C

The C-to-C is the most common type of roll taught to newcomers to the sport of Kayaking. It involves an initial torso rotation along the side of the kayak, so that the paddle moves across the surface of the water to a position at a 90 degree (right) angle to the kayak. The paddle is then pulled across and a hip snap is applied.

Sweep Roll

Also called the Screw Roll, this is probably the easiest roll to learn. In this roll the active paddle blade is brought from the setup position away from the side of the kayak and then across to the final position in a continuous fluid motion.

Hand roll

This is rolling without the aid of a paddle. It is commonly employed for Canoe polo, as well as a trick during rolling practice or when the paddler runs a river without a paddle. For the hand roll, the strength and timing of the hip flick are especially important, because the hands provide much less torque than a paddle blade.

Canoe Roll

A variation of the C-to-C roll, the Canoe Roll is adapted to combat the higher center of gravity of a C-1 or C-2 canoe. It involves an initial torso rotation along the side of the kayak, so that the paddle moves across the surface of the water to a position at a 90 degree (right) angle to the kayak. The paddle is then pulled across and a hip snap is applied. A second push with the back of the blade is then applied directly down next to the hip. When used in a C-2 canoe one paddler must switch hands on their paddle before both complete the roll simultaneously. Straps or ties are often essential to allow the paddler to twist the canoe with their lower body. Similar techniques are used for open canoes.

Back Deck Roll

A back deck roll is most often performed when the boater flips while leaning back. If rolling with the right hand, the right forearm is brought to the forehead, with the paddle blade flat to the water. The left hand is kept at the left hip. Then, the hip snap is performed, and the paddler uses a forward sweeping motion to right the boat. This roll is advantageous because it is very quick, and the ending position is sitting forward with the power hand blade in the water.

Elements of a Sweep Roll

Initial or Setup Position

The initial position places the paddle alongside the kayak. The active blade will be angled so as to glide on the surface of the water.

Sweep

The sweep of the paddle from the initial to final position provides the needed rotation.

Hip Flick or Hip Snap

The hip snap is a critical element in a roll. This action consists of rotating the lower body to one side so that the kayak begins to right itself. Different roll types require different kinds of hip action. Brace rolls tend to require a rapid hip snap while sweep rolls tend to require slower hip rotation. For many kayaks, once the kayak hull is rotated past its secondary stability point, it will tend to assist the paddler in righting herself.

Ending or Final position

Each roll has a desired ending position. In a "layback" roll the torso will be lying on the back deck of the kayak at the end of the roll.

Keeping the Head Low

The paddler's head should remain in the water until the very end of the roll. Raising the head too early is a common reason for rolling failure.

References

• Hutchinson, Derek (1999). Eskimo Rolling, 3rd Edition. Globe Pequot. ISBN 0762704519.

External links

• Qajaq USA - Movie clips of Eskimo Rolls and other manoeuvres
• Eskimo Roll Tutorial - How to train yourself to complete an eskimo roll.
• Kayak Rolling Cross Reference - Web page listing all rolls known to the web page's author
• A Kayak Rolling Primer - Includes some fine hand drawn animations. (Same, but still)
• Tips and techniques on a variety of rolls