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I nearly drowned with the regular paddle. I went out on a double surf ski canoe.the sit on top kind.there was a strong offshore wind hooking the waves up to 10 feet.we went out but fell off behind the breakers..the wind took the paddling ski off .they found it a hundred miles away.we then had to swim the 300 meters back to shore against the wind .my buddy ditched his paddle and got to the beach before me.i wanted to save my paddle and it nearly cost me my life .i was utterly exhausted by the time I got back. All could have been prevented with the knowledge of Eskimo roll and greenland paddle . This was in cape town table bay .we only had speedos and the waters cold there.could not swim more than 20 minutes before hypothermia sets in. The suns hot but the water is notoriously cold .thats where Lawrence pugh swims to practice swimming in the ice floes

Can you roll a sea kayak without wearing a spray skirt?

@13:30 Looks like Ikea bags are the world standard for kayak camping.

Thanks Paolo. I thought I would need yoga to complete the roll but your technique seems really doable for tight people as me

I've noticed there's a certain flow to people who aren't trying to force the paddle through the water. They're not fighting the water.

Awesome. One of the best videos I have ever seen on this topic. Greenland paddles are great. Thanks for sharing!

how to watch it

Thank you for sharing this, as well as the course on your website. Seeing this made me really hyped for kayaking!

I mostly canoe, river and ocean. In challenging ww conditions I mostly do continuous underwater strokes alternating between all power, bracing and maneuvering strokes and slowing down and letting the boat ride with the waves vs powering and fighting. So much more stable than above water recovering and high speed. When I watch newer ww paddlers they typically power through with paddles in the air and boat twitching and rocking. I hear lots of similarity with your approach in rough conditions.

Very much agreed. Rescue stuff is taught in relatively calm waters. When things get rough, the very first thing you realize is that you *have* to keep hold of your paddle for stability control. That alone complicates helping others. Once waves get over 4 feet or so, you can also easily lose site of others as they disappear in the troughs. I once had the opportunity to as Nigel Foster why he didn't wear a drysuit or other gear in colder water like other paddlers. I said "aren't you worried about what happens if you fall in?" He smiled and shrugged and said "Don't fall in. It's the best thing you can learn." So yes, those skills are the ones that _really_ save you. I hope to continually get better at them with all your excellent tips, Paulo.

Short answer... find one you can "WEAR"

wow, very graceful and the logic is solid "try to stay out of trouble, if in trouble know how to deal with it, only then rescue has to be an option" how does rolling with a greenland paddle work? the same way I guess? I'm so intrigued and I'm not even kayaking :D

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I go alone, so self Rescue, bracing and rolling. Are high on my skill needs I'm usually in rivers or Bay but sometimes I do go to the ocean coming in the waves. Try to tip me. This is where I run into problems and bracing and rolling is important.

I enjoy the information you provide. I'm new to sea kayaking only 5 years with 2 years in a recreational kayak. I like the mindset of kayaking as a philosophy rather than an activity...thank you.

Great❤ ! I love to see your Videos. Greetings Ralph ( Germany )🙏

Paulo, do you have experience with a longer Greenland paddle and shorter, say 220cm versus 230cm.

BEST

We use Pacific Ocean kayaks, Aleutian chain

Rolling has built my confidence and skills for paddling in conditions. Keep practicing and training your skills on the water.

So would you recommend a wooden or carbon made paddle?

Update ! I finally bought my first new Sea Kayak after years of research and trying different models ! The P&H Volan 160 is my dream yak. At 16’ and 23” wide weighing 42 lbs it’s an absolute stealthy fast yak. I have loved all your videos over the years Paulo, thank you so much for introducing me to the Greenland paddle, I was using a bent handled Werner carbon touring paddle for a couple years, the Greenland paddle has made me become more at one with the kayak and giving me greater stability in any condition. Thanx again !

Which kayak is in the background. Yellow n white with long chines ?

Thank you for your videos! It seems that kayak fit is very important, but is it achievable to get a good kayak fit when all we can access are rental kayaks? Very very few people in my country own their own kayaks and we don’t have much choice in what we rent (not the best kayaks obviously, many of them don’t have thigh braces or adjustable foot pegs). I’ve never ever felt comfortable in any rental kayak as my thighs are always jammed up and I realise after watching your video I cannot rotate my torso or hips freely at all. I’d get numb legs within minutes of getting in 😭 Would you have any tips on this?

Just getting back into kayaking now after a long time away (32 years away). I got myself an ORU bay ST to play with at the little beach I live across from. It’s such a pleasure but I’m still figuring out the best settings so I can be snug but mobile inside it. I’ve completely forgotten how to roll! I also only had experience paddling in white water so learning to read wind and tide are new to me. I don’t have Greenland paddles yet but I’ll get some to see how they feel. For the time being just getting comfy is the goal.

Thank you so much.

i've almost completed my first year of paddling and have learned a lot. Your videos have been invaluable. Now that the water is warming up I can't wait to take some instruction and learn how to roll. I have challenges with four places in my pelvis with metal. But I can't wait to see how it goes. Can't wait until I can make my log like kayak feel nimble like you speak of.

I will bet that the extra active pelvic movement reduces bum fatigue and lets you actually sit longer and more comfortably. Keeping the blood flowing through the sitting muscles.

First thing I look for is comfort in the ocean. Then a person can begin to learn anything and enjoy the process

Very inspiring video. Thanks for posting!

Just got mine from gearlab and immediately took to it.

The link to the forward stroke is broken. It brings you back to this video instead.

omg man you are suposed to roll them up! i didnt figure that out. thx!

How long can you maintain such a rhythm (3,500 strokes per hour)?

Rather than have the paddler strive constantly to keep his balance, why don't they make the kayak more stable?

Hello sir please I need your help I want to go from the city of Tartus in Syria to the Greek island of Cyprus Do you think it is too risky to kayak please help me

Thanks for the tips

Muchas Gracias Paolo ! 🙌

I’m really loving your great videos, Paulo, thank you! Very inspiring and informative. I’m glad to have found your content after just getting my first kayak, and starting off on the journey with such great advice!

Great video coaching - thanks for sharing from N Ireland!

so it's not the paddle, it's knowing how to paddle. a wider paddle will always give more power. Use more muscles, they will tire less quickly.

I’ve been learning from Paulo’s videos for 3 years now. One year ago I broke down and bought a P&H Volan at 42lbs. It and the Gearlab Greenland Paddle have truly brought kayaking into a completely higher level of response. Having the kayak an extension of your body is the key. Thank you Paulo for all you have and still are teaching me !

Paulo, I found your channel a little over 3 years ago. I have been learning your techniques and it has truly evolved my kayaking. I’m using a P&H Volan which I never would have considered purchasing had I not learned how to make my kayak an extension of my body. Thank you for all the years of training your videos have provided. I’m 63 and it’s the perfect timing in my life for this wonderful thing we call yakking !

Hi Paulo. I'm really enjoying your video footage of the Greenland paddle and would love some tuition on how to use it correctly. I am presently using an inflatable kayak, does this matter?? Also, is there an optimum length for a Greenland paddle as I will need to purchase one. I am new to kayaking and I'm keen to develop my skills using the Greenland paddle before I learn bad habits with the Euro blade paddle I am using at the moment. many thanks, Seth.

Me again Paulo. If you ever decide to do one of these on the US side of the border please let me know.

Great video Paulo. And yes, the Greenland paddle is superior in so many ways.

The reason they ysed the greenland paddle was to reduce noise ao they could hunt seals, the reason 99 % of kayaker s use euro paddles is because they offer so much in pretty every situation

Paulo, the link above shows Alchemy Retreat in South Africa. I think you need to fix that.

Rolling a kayak is 100% against normal human intuition which is not to get the head up first.

Gracias!!!! También me pasó