Rolling a kayak is surprisingly simple. It has nothing to do with strength, age or IQ, and more to do with following a few simple laws of physics. The good news is, these simple laws can be broken down, taught, and mastered by anyone.
With the right technique, we don't even need a paddle to roll the kayak, or a spray-skirt. Rolling a fully-loaded touring kayak with days worth of gear is no problem at all. However, you've probably never tried learning something upside down, under water. Professional instruction can increase the fun, decrease learning time, decrease risk for injury and increase chances for success.
In this 2-hour classroom discussion, we'll review two kayak rolling videos: Rolling a Kayak, by Ken Whiting and The Kayak Roll, by Kent Ford. These videos will introduce the student to the two most popular methods of rolling a kayak, and cover many fundamental concepts and myths, while providing a visual representation of how to roll a kayak.
I like the emphasis on kayaking as a positive experience. After taking the classes, you realize that you can have a very fun time, even before mastering the roll. Other classes I've taken make the roll seem like a necessity, and learning to roll (or not), becomes the focus, which eclipses the fun of kayaking.
The Intro to Kayak clinic is the foundation for everything I teach. It's a required prerequisite for the 2-day Whitewater Weekend clinics and the 2-day Touring Kayak Weekend clinics. The Kayak Roll is a good next step after the Intro to Kayak clinic, although not a requirement for the Whitewater or Touring Kayak Weekend clinics.
While learning to roll is a good skill, it's not the best place to start. Rolling is a defensive measure. Good boat control, judgement and an accurate assessment of your skills will keep you from rolling most of the time.
You'll learn boat control in the Intro to Kayak and subsequent clinics. Those who complete the Intro to Kayak class have a much higher success rate in the Kayak Roll clinic. A few hours in the boat learning to do smooth and controlled wet exits from a skirted kayak will be money well spent. If you've spent little or no time in a decked kayak, your mind will simply be too distracted by flipping over and getting out to learn the Kayak Roll.
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