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Hey thanks for making these videos. Have been paddling rec boats for a few years and I'm moving into whitewater boats. Trying to make sure I have the right strokes to be successful

This started as an experiment for me but now I'm legit studying it. Thank you for the video!

Great tutorial

Thank you so much. I left my roll in a shuttle vehicle a while back and couldn’t find it. A couple of things you said made sense and helped get me out of these bad habits. A big one was leaning too far forward! I don’t know how that became my position but it was breaking my roll. I owe you a beer if you are ever on the Eagle river. Cheers

Thank you so much. I left my roll in a shuttle vehicle a while back and couldn’t find it. A couple of things you said made sense and helped get me out of these bad habits. A big one was leaning too far forward! I don’t know how that became my position but it was breaking my roll. I owe you a beer if you are ever on the Eagle river. Cheers

Glad you made this video. It's something I've been doing more the past year, and automatic this season. Soo good!

"while obviously not a good forward stroke" feels like im being directly called out, and we've not even paddled together 😂

Great video! I was just learning this at Paddle School this year. Jet ferrying across the current at Three Chutes on the Hiwassee I noticed how dry my bow was as it climbed up and over the whitewater. Thanks for posting about this more in depth!

Great tutorial, thank you Boyd!

Hey man! You're the perfect teacher. I love your videos. You asked for ideas. 🙏 I see the lock-in as the necessary beginning of "wearing your boat" (as opposed to sitting in it). The other part is what one does when locked in. Kayakers need to acquire conditioned responses for stabilizing which allow them to deal with turbulent water flow around their boats without necessarily having to explicitly think much about it. I think that kayakers need to relegate a part of their brains to the task of stabilization. Core muscles (for boat edge, balance, and for transmitting the power of strokes), and a complete repertoire of strokes (including draw strokes and hybrids with other strokes and with brace) can be somewhat relegated to the background of the brain. With that skill he can have very good automatic responses in turbulence and he can also better think higher level thoughts, such as where he's trying to go, etc. A person can practice relegating stabilization skills to the background by intentionally dwelling a little in squirrally water (foregoing hard forward stroking through it), as he dares. He can also find times to challenge himself in flatwater (including pool sessions) by just using the back of his brain to throw imagined situations at himself, intentionally losing balance with various body positions, etc, and responding with strokes & braces. Maybe you have other/more ideas.

These videos are great, I'd love if you could do something on down river tricks, how to nail kick flips, splats, rock spins, blunts ect.

As one coach put it to me once, look for the high points. I love the sweep boof technique. One thing though, too much edge combined with not getting the boat straightened up to ride over a feature can result in a beatdown on some strong seam lines and holes, particularly as a light paddler. I won't tell you how I know that... 😂 Great video as always!

Whoa, just what I’ve been figuring out lately. Watching the pros had me notice a lot of them almost sweep boofing over holes and pourovers. This is a great tutorial that helps me conceptualize the quadrant idea. Thanks!

Very well explained and demonstrated.

you could also just buy a high n' dry rolling aid. makes you skip out 10 times better 👍

very helpful !!

Having taught the roll myself to numerous people, I can definitely say that all the key details to learning to roll are given here, good job !

You have mastered the way of teaching.... excellent video.

Your video explains alot about how I feel. I recently went on a trip and was feeling scared of what thos river might bring, as I put on my spraydeck the fear went and the focus and joy started. I'm sharing this video. 🤟

Wow nice activity

Does anyone know what wave is shown at 2:32?

Where do you put your feet/knees? Do you want your knees kinda locked in under the lip of the cockpit?

Tucking forward is for whitewater kayaking where rocks and other hard obstacles are in the way. It keeps you from bumping your head against them. Ocean kayaking is a different kettle of fish.

Tough to demo boats out in UT curious about the flow Lg. I’m paddling mostly 3+,4 lower volume rivers with the occasional high water runs. I’ve been using a superhero for these but wishing for something a bit more modern with rocker profile. Super hero is stable and nimble though so it’s been a fun boat. I’m 6ft 3in 225 lbs and a bit of a reactive paddler. Is the flow Lg the way to go or should I be considering the Gnarvana? (I’ve got a Nirvana Lg that I love for bigger water)

Channel is awesome man! I have never gone kayaking, but just bought my daughter and me some new ones and we are going to start learning this summer and hopefully make it lifelong thing. You are one amazing kayaker brother! Super inspirational!! Hope to see some more vids soon!! 👍

Need your help sir, I have a 3m crossover kajak...what kind of roll would you suggest for bigger boats?

Hey Boyd. I’m a new subscriber and really enjoy your videos. I have a disabled friend/student who has been trying to learn to roll. She is actually a great paddler upright but has limited control of her legs and hips so would have to rely on upper body strength. Could you advise on how we can adapt something?

Great info and demonstration ! I think Most of this rules also apply to sea kayak.

I DID IT!!! After weeks and weeks of rewatching your advice I was final able to roll my Scorch… my buddy then let me try his play boat and boom straight up. Probably the technique I’m guessing, but is it easier in a short boat? Thank you and hope you are well.

1st: thank you for the video. I've paddled for many years, initially canoe and then kayak. Took chances, looking back that were foolish and got away lucky. I have never seriously considered learning the roll until I happened to click on your video. From your video, I learned things that I never realized before but after watching your video, several times did you change your set position when sitting on the dock and then when you were upside down in the water did you change to the right side? I going watch again because I'm not sure I am getting it. Or maybe watch a different video.

I just want you to know I appreciate your videos. I started boating last year and watched them before but yours are the ones I'm looking at now that I'm getting a better understanding and continue to progress. You're also my go-to to share with others. I appreciate the depth of your explanation and slowing down your video shots to really see what's happening.

Great tips! I’ll add a few more: 1. In the pool or where ever practicing, instead tossing someone around, do bracing drills. Stand behind them and try to flip them randomly to one side or the other. After a few random braces, flip them too hard to brace so they have to roll up unexpectedly. This accomplishes 2 things - it teaches someone how to have a reflexive and rock solid brace, and it teaches them how to roll when flipping unexpectedly. To randomize L/R, have them always do a half or full roll so they are rolling on both sides. This is how I taught my daughter to have a solid brace and bomb proof roll on both sides. 2. The usual cause of roll failure is head lift or leading with the head. It’s nearly impossible to roll with a fully committed head lift because you are pulling on the wrong knee to lift your head. When you see someone rolling up barely and doing that. Do not congratulate them on their sloppy roll. I see that way to often, the “any roll is good” BS. Nip that in the bud and save them many future swims. To end that once and for all, encourage to always look at the rolling blade regardless if they can see it. If the head is turned towards the rolling blade, they won’t lead with it. 3. Once you learn to roll, don’t practice in the setup position, ever. You never flip on the river set up. Practice setting up with every roll. 4. Acclimate to the water so you don’t freak out when you flip on cold days. Do practice rolls at the beginning of the run and a few spots down the run regardless of conditions. You will have a much better chance of nailing a roll if you do that.

any tips on how to keep from getting dizzy or kind of seasick while doing it ?

A classic ledge hole is in the middle of Lava Falls.

My kayak pulls to the left

Great informative video, can i add something, if youre using the side of the pool, i wouldnt recommend the pool side being any higher than a couple of inches above the water as this can lead to shoulder injury, especially if youre getting on a bit in age and or you hardly use your arms/shoulders in every day life. I did my rotator cuff in whilst practising on the side of the pool, the pool side is about 4-5 inches high and it put too much strain on my shoulder due to the higher angle. I would much prefer a student to use a pool or paddle float for the hip flick practising if the pool side is high. Another thing is that you do not really mention about opposite leg, i reckon stamping the opposite leg will lower it and very much aide in the flick :)

Hey dude, just getting into kayaking at 46 and im fortunate enough to have a best friend as a seasoned instructor, like you hes calm and really good at explaing situations and what and how to deal with it. Your videos are so well thought out and presented, so clear and well broken down into stages. the rolling ones satiated some fears i had (yet to get in the pool) but made it look obtainable. Thank you for your efforts in explaining stuff realy well.

How would this do for overnights? Does it have enough volume for 4-7 day trip?

One of the best roll videos I've seen. Well done.

Excellent!

Thank you!!!

Awesome video! I wish I would’ve been able to see this before I wrenched my back and possibly ended my time paddling. Having said that, I only realize now that I have a little more time on big water than I ever thought, mostly at Sturgeon Falls and Whitemud Falls in Manitoba; and a few short stretches of a few rivers in Minnesota at very high levels. The Canadian stuff is straight out big water at 40-60k cfs (if I remember correctly) with huge beautiful standing waves great for endless surfing, but when the time comes to leave- especially at Whitemud you inevitably run about a 2/3 mile stretch of big waves with a few holes and no rocks anywhere and you need to approach it in the manner that you describe. A bunch of it comes down to coping with features that are reactions of water-on-water. I totally loved my trips there, but knowing these tips and just being consciously aware of this mindset would’ve made things almost sublime. A great video that brings up great memories, and who knows, I might be out there putting this to use yet! 🙂

rhank you for your video

It is a great series of videos… However… What if the kayak is longer i.e. a 17 sea kayak? I would love to see your video and a longer boat ! 😊👍

Any hints for how you might use someone in the pool to help learn this roll? I seem to have the sweep down but somehow to position of my body is inhibiting the hip snap. I get about halfway up then fail.

Could you recommend 3 dry suit brands? Not sure about the cheaper made in China suits. Would rather pay more for something that would last.

Hell yeah! I used the window wiper today and nailed most of my hand rolls, thanks for another awesome instructional

Every time I watch this I get a little more out of it, seems like you have a bit of a sculling finish. Still struggling with it on my creeker but it's coming along. Thanks Boyd!