Kayak Rolling Cross Reference Guide

Copyright © Michael Daly 2002-2005

Assisted Rolls for Future Reference

Assisted rolls are those that rely on a paddle, float or other device to complete the roll.

Advanced version of the C-C.  Dutky considers the C-C to be a step towards learning this roll.

Alternate name for the Butterfly Roll

One arm sweep roll can be used to simulate rolling with an injury.  In Greenland competition, you must hold the paddle tip pressed against your shoulder (above or beside your armpit); you are not allowed to actually clamp the end of the paddle under your armpit. Some paddlers do this reference as a brace roll ; the sweep is for position only, the brace completes the roll.

Like Armpit Roll 1. But the end of the paddle is held in the teeth!  Also mentioned in Hutchinson where he quotes an historical record by David Crantz “History of Greenland” 1767.

Use of floating object (paddle, PFD, foam block) to provide buoyancy in hand roll.  Usually a learning technique.  Also may use non-floating object for future reference ; such as hand paddle or swimming glove (w/ webbed fingers) etc.

Not a roll in itself. But a term to describe a roll that rarely fails regardless of conditions for future reference.

To do a butterfly roll to the right side:
– Hold your right arm across your abdomen, with your hand near your left hip.
– Hold the paddle in the center of the loom with your left hand.
– Reach across and place the paddle along the right gunwale, palm down
– Capsize to the right.
– When the boat rolls around and you start to come up; reach up and outward with the paddle as you lay back on the deck and flop your right hand over for balance. It’s sort of like you’re “unfolding” onto the rear deck. You finish laying on the back deck with your arms outstretched on either side of the boat; and the paddle parallel to the boat. Video clip here.

Hold the paddle at the center of the loom with your right hand. Lay the paddle on the left gunnel as you tuck forward and capsize to the left. Sweep the paddle straight out at the surface of the water and away from the boat; hip snap just before you reach full extension. You will come up in a upright position with your paddle slightly underwater.
Note: There is no layback involved in the original version of the roll.

Start with paddle forward on canoe float bag.  Sweep out to side in low brace position.  Brace down and hip snap up.  Can be done similarly in a kayak.  Similar toReverse Sweep Roll 1 except that the setup is forward.

Pronounced “see to see”.  Dutky has an excellent description of the roll technique, but doesn’t call it a C-C!

Many paddlers do this for future reference. But it’s considered bad form.  It often is a sweep roll that is abbreviated by punching down with the paddle; (sweep C-C or Sweep to C) or a C-C without the forward recovery.

A low brace roll used in canoes (C1 and OC1).  Starting from a forward setup; the paddle is swept to roughly 90 degrees in a low brace position, and the paddle pushes down, recovering over the foredeck.  Specified for a single blade paddle; it can be done with a double blade for future reference.

A low brace roll used in canoes (C1 and OC1).  Starting from a layback setup, the paddle is swept to roughly 90 degrees in a low brace position and the paddle pushes down, recovering over the foredeck.  Specified for a single blade paddle, it can be done with a double blade.  If this were done as a full sweep instead of a brace; it would be very much like the Rodeo Roll 1.

Not a roll in itself, but a term that describes a roll that is reliable in real conditions.  For some, that’s a C-C, for others, a sweep roll ; whatever works for future reference.

Like the storm roll, but with arms crossed to simulate arms tangled in a harpoon line.

Like Cross Arm Roll 1, but while 1 relies on levering the paddle off the bottom of the upturned hull; this one does not.  As a future reference, the paddle is held in the combat position; and the outboard hand is crossed over the inboard, grasping the blade about midway to the tip.  The paddle is then rotated so this tip is placed against the inboard upper arm.

Wind up and capsize is as for a normal screw roll. Under water the paddle is crossed over the bow and swept out in the opposite direction. The paddle finishes under the boat, so it must be released as the roll finishes.  Many variations are possible.

See also Opposite Arm Roll
Apparently there are several variations of this roll. Normally, rolls with one hand on the paddle start with the paddle held across the deck (e.g. see Butterfly Roll 1). In the Cross Deck Roll, the paddle is not across the deck at the start – the paddle is on the same side as the hand that holds it. The roll completes with the paddle and arm across the deck.

Not to be confused with the Crucifixion Hand Roll
Pavia Lumholt and Freya Hoffmeister worked this out at a Greenland-style kayaking festival in Denmark. A Greenland paddle is placed inside the sleeves of a tuiliq across the back of the shoulders. After that, I leave to your imagination.

Another interesting roll from Dubside. Take a norsaq in each hand and hold the arms straight out to the side. Turn the body so the arms are parallel to the keel and fall backwards into the water. The norsaqs appear to be brought together underwater to generate the force to lift the paddler back up. Video clip.

If you know the difference between a draw and a scull to move a kayak sideways, you know the difference between a draw roll and a sculling roll. I do it from a layback position and do a series of draw strokes to right the kayak. Not an elegant or low force roll, but a novelty.

Variant of Rodeo Roll 1. More of a WW trick than a roll. The kayak spins on its bow and the paddler keeps his head dry. Also called Dry Roll.

Alternate name for Dry Head Back Deck Roll

Use of a float intead of a paddle to assist in rolling. Has been used in Greenland for centuries with skin or bladder floats according to Stamer. Unlike the Roll with hunting float; where the float is used to impede the roll for future reference.

Sounds a bit like the Headstand roll. An obvious way to recover from chest sculling.

Like the Standard Greenland Roll 1, except the paddle is held in the crook of theinboard elbow instead of the hand. I often wonder if it based on a misunderstanding by Bolonsky of the Crooked Elbow Roll

More of a brace than a roll, but a finishing hip flick does it.

Spin the paddle around your neck and then in the air over your head.  Place the paddle in water on your onside.  Place your onside hand palm down on the hull near the gunwale on the offside.  Collapse to the offside.  When inverted, push your onside hand up, out and over the floating paddle, catching the paddle shaft with theback of your hand.  Then finish as per a Butterfly Roll for future reference.

A sweep roll that is terminated before the full sweep is completed; resulting in the paddler in seated position rather than in a layback.  Nonetheless, the paddle is swept as per a normal sweep roll, but the sweep stops at about 90 degrees and then the sweep reverses finishing forward.  The paddler ends up in the combat position rather than a layback.  The sweep stroke is in a high brace position throughout

As per Modified Sweep Roll 1, except that the paddler switches from a high brace sweep to a low brace sweep when the direction is reversed.

As per Screw Roll. But with the hip rotation accelerated to bring the roll to a conclusion with a paddle sweep of only 90 – 100 degrees.  No layback – paddler ends in combat position.

Start and end in layback position, maintaining contact with the deck the whole time. A norsaq (throwing stick) or other object is used to assist in the roll. Very much like theCrucifixion Roll if done without assist. Hutchinson uses a similar technique in learning a hand roll.
A variation, in kayaks without a forward bulkhead, is to slide into the kayak up to your armpits!
If you lift the shoulder of the hand holding the norsaq, you’ve got something similar to the Shoulder Flick

No hands version of the Spine Roll. Stick the GP vertically inside a tight fitting PFD, so that it sticks straight up into the air. Then perform a “spine roll” with no hands…
This roll was invented by Dubside

Similar to Kotzebue. But with the paddler lying inside the cockpit of the kayak; (no bulkheads in these kayaks).

Alternate name for the Armpit Roll 1

Set up as per reverse screw, sweep upper blade across body in front of face, pivoting paddle on lower hand.  Maintain contact with rear deck.

Alternate name for the Butterfly Roll

See also Cross Deck Roll
Using the “wrong” arm for a roll. I.e. using the left arm for a roll that finishes on the right side. Dubside offers several variations, including a one-handed version of the cross-arm roll and both a forward recovery and a layback recovery version.

A training roll. Attach one paddle to the rear deck so that it extends perpendicular to the kayak. Invert so that the paddle sweeps through the air. Using a second paddle, scull up to the surface against the resistance of the first paddle.

Use paddle float on end of paddle to assist.  Often derided as just a learning technique.  Could be a sweep or brace. But it leads to a poor sweep and an easy brace – hence my classification of the type.  Has been used in Greenland for centuries with skin or bladder floats according to Stamer.

Hold the paddle under the hull with the tip protruding on the offside and most of the paddle on the onside.  Capsize to the offside so the paddle arcs through the air.  Release the offside hand and pull down on the tip of the paddle with the onside hand so that the paddle arcs through the air and lands on the water pointing out to the side.  Roll up as per the Put Across 1.  Capsizing to the onside is an option that produces a very slow capsize.

Extended paddle roll.  Often used as a teaching aid.  Named after the person who introduced it to European paddlers.  It is a modified standard Greenland roll according to Heath.

If no paddle is available, remove PFD while inverted and use it to perform a Butterfly Roll.  One of the few times you should remove your PFD while paddling.

Simple, beginner’s roll with paddle leveraged off the hull under the coaming.  Requires a non-feathered paddle. The Pivot roll will also work with a feathered paddle using a Paddle float, for example, as part of a reentry and Roll.

Article by Greg Stamer (quoted from Qajaq USA web forum):
“Here’s something different (and quite useless; but fun) to try for future reference…
Pavia Lumholt showed me “kayak push-ups” a few years ago at Delmarva, as a fun move for just clowning around. You capsize, lean fully aft so that your back and head are touching the back deck, bring your paddle-shaft close to your chest (like starting a bench press) and then strongly push your paddle away from your chest as you would for performing a push-up or a bench press.

At the end of the “press” you can feather your paddle so that it doesn’t impede your upward motion. Mark Molina and I were playing around with this yesterday in several very light kayaks, including his latest Tom Yost kayak, and we could push the stern two feet or more above the surface. Upon crashing back down, the kayak can make a loud sound like a beating drum…

As a (new?) variation we were playing around with converting this into a “vertical take-off roll or push-up roll” by letting go of the paddle and adding a hipsnap and handroll started; while in the air to recover rightside up. We were able to hit this “push-up” roll yesterday. But not entirely in the air … more of landing on the chine and then recovering.

Hutchinson shows the paddle floating to start

Like Put Across 1. But with an extended paddle position start.  Demonstrated for reference; but not named in the Ford video.  Similar to the Kotzebue. But for a double blade paddle.

Drop to the water with the paddle landing flat and immediately snap back up.

More accurate name of what is often taught as the Reverse Screw Roll

Alternate name for the Steyr roll.

Like the Steyr. But with the hands in the normal paddling position.  For Hutchinson and others’ future reference; this is really a Reverse C-C that is misnamed.  Some do teach it as truereverse sweep roll.   The name is thus ambiguous.

For future reference, start from rear deck and sweep forward for a foredeck recovery.  Paddle is held in a low brace position! The Greenland version of the Rodeo Roll 1 ; they differ in the setup. However, this version has the paddle held beside the shoulder ; in the Rodeo Roll, the paddle is held in front of the face for protection.

Paddle behind neck – also in low brace position.

Reverse sweep roll with paddle behind neck

Whitewater roll comparable to the Reverse Sweep Roll 1.  Setup is with paddle in front of face instead of to side.  Capsize is to one side and the body sweeps the paddle under the kayak to recover on the opposite side. By contrast, the Reverse Sweep Roll 1 is initiated with the paddle held on one side. See also Rodeo Roll 2 for future reference.

Popular name for Reverse Screw Roll.  See also Rodeo Roll 1.

Standard Greenland Roll with float lashed to side of kayak to impede rolling. Unlike the Float Roll where the float is used to provide support to roll.

Have a person hug the back deck as per a rear deck rescue of a swimmer.  Capsize and roll using Standard Greenland Roll 1 .  Success depends on using the sweep effectively from the start and getting a good, full hip rotation.  Try it with someone on the foredeck – it’s usually harder since the foredeck is higher.

Like the Pawlata, but with the hands in the normal (combat) paddling position.

Paddle held horizontally, in contact with the foredeck

Start in layback position.  Reach out to side and scull up to surface.  No hip flick, back remains in contact throughout the roll.  Greenlanders generally learn these sculling rolls before they learn other rolls.

Like Sculling Roll 1. But with the paddle held behind the back!

Alternate name for the Armpit Roll 1, since the paddle is held sort of like a shotgun, at least in the competition version of the roll.

Similar to Reverse C-C.  Start on rear deck, lift one shoulder and rotate torso to push paddle to surface with that hand. Other shoulder remains in contact with deck.  Inboard hand goes to underside of hull.  Outboard hand sweeps out and shoulder is snapped back to deck with brace on paddle generating roll. (Shoulder flick replaces hip flick to roll kayak).

Article by Alex Pak (quoted from Qajaq USA web forum):
” A slash roll is a sweep/screw roll done with an intentional diving angle. The paddle slashes into the water and the sweeping torso motion of the body causes the paddle blade to plane toward the surface. Throughout the entire roll, there is never any direct resistance on the paddle from the water and all the resistance is laterally applied to the paddle.”
It is a bit like a modern whitewater variation of the Vertical Storm Roll. But with a non-extended paddle.
Video clip.

Start from front deck with paddle held behind back along spine.  Sweep out to a layback then recover to the start position.

Like the Standard Greenland Roll 1. But with the paddle held in the crook of theoutboard elbow instead of the hand. Some folks call this the Crooked Elbow Roll. Contrast it with the Bolonsky’s Greenland Crooked Elbow Roll, where he holds it with the inboard elbow. I think that Bolonsky’s version is based on a misunderstanding of the roll.

As per Standard Greenland Roll 3. But the paddle is used with a sculling motion.

Setup with the paddle as if doing a stern rudder stroke.  Move the far end of the paddle to the opposite gunwale and capsize.  Change setup underwater to the Steyr Roll and recover.

This is an interesting roll in that many paddlers think of it as a reverse of the Pawlata. In fact, it is usually taught as a Reverse C-C, albeit with an extended paddle.  Since there is a significant sweep component, it probably would be best described as a reverse Sweep to C

Greg Stamer’s description of the Storm Roll and video clip. Hands grip the paddle as per a low brace.

Variant on Storm Roll 1.  While the former is a sweep roll, this one is a brace roll. The paddle is held roughly perpendicular to the keel with the inboard end on the upturned hull.  The hands grip the paddle in a high brace position and the roll is done with a strong hip snap.

The conventional C-C starts with a forward setup and the sweep is used solely to position the paddle for a brace.  In the Sweep C-C, the sweep motion initiates a partial roll and the brace motion finishes it.  Could also be considered a sweep roll terminating with a brace once the paddle is at 90 degrees to the kayak. Paddlers that use strength rather than technique often end up doing a Screw Roll as a Sweep C-C.

Start leaning aft, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forward

Start tucked forward, finish leaning aft. Your sweeping hand must be palm-up during the roll.

Start forward, brace when throwing stick at right angles, finish aft.

Throwing stick, start tucked forward, finish tucked forward

Place the paddle in the water perpendicular to the keel with the inboard tip resting on the gunwale (if using a composite or plastic kayak, you may have to hold the tip lightly; SOF or foldables will hold the paddle by friction).  Capsize away from the paddle causing the paddle to remain on the inverted hull.  Reach around with the onside hand only, grab the paddle mid-shaft and roll, levering the paddle off the hull.  This is a one hand roll.

A variation on the C to C. Hold the paddle vertically in the setup.  Finish as per a C-C. Not a safe setup position as it leaves the paddler with an open shoulder joint at the start of the roll.

Hold the paddle vertically while inverted.  Push the tip of the paddle sharply out while pulling the lower hand sharply in and hip snap up.

The paddle is sculled vertically; and the paddler uses the sculling to roll up with a forward recovery.  The paddle is lifted out of the water in the process. But remains vertical.  The Qajaq USA web site has a good video clip of this.

Hold the paddle vertically while inverted.  Scull two or three times to generate lift on the paddle and hip snap up.

Paddle blade is driven deep into green water. The paddle arc is vertical at the start.

Similar to Butterfly Roll. But with a different start position.  Hold the paddle in, say, the right hand with the paddle in the water parallel to the keel.  Move your hand up and across your body until the forearm is horizontal across your chest and your right hand is near your left shoulder with palm up.  Paddle remains parallel to the keel.  Invert, push out to the side with the paddle, straighten your elbow and roll up as per Butterfly with a layback.

Unassisted rolls are those that do not require any paddle or other device; these are typically hand rolls.

Start with balance brace (without paddle), then hand roll up.  Emphasis is on leg drive.

A Straight Jacket Roll where the elbows are sticking out a bit. Not a proper no hands roll; the elbows allow for a cheat.

Keep body perpendicular to the boat. Bring shoulders up to the surface (face down) with arms straight out on either side, parallel to the keel.  Rotate hands and sweep both hands upward, converting the motion to the breast stroke.   Motion is gentle and repeated, like sculling with hands to surface, not just one powerful thrust.

Start with body in layback position with arms out to either side.  Capsize and performTwo-handed, Backwards Leaning Hand Roll, recovering in the layback with arms out to side.

Start tucked forward with one hand clasped behind neck, finish leaning aft (the off-hand can be flung over the hull as a counterweight).

Two hands arc down while head lying against the rear deck.  At surface, one arm swings to other side while second continues to brace down against water.

Start leaning aft, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forward

Start tucked forward, finish leaning aft. Your sweeping hand must be palm-up during the roll.  Often done with the hand in a sculling motion at the end.

Holding an eight kilogram brick or stone (the off-hand can be flung over the hull as a counterweight).

Any hand roll method with clenched fist.

Hand roll, start tucked forward, finish tucked forward

Hand roll, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forward

Hand roll, start tucked forward, finish leaning aft

Hand roll with a clenched fist, start tucked forward, finish tucked forward

Hand roll with a clenched fist, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forward

Hand roll with a clenched fist, start tucked forward, finish leaning aft

Hand roll holding an Eight kilogram brick or stone, tucked forward, finish tucked forward

Hand roll holding an Eight kilogram brick or stone, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forward

Hand roll holding an Eight kilogram brick or stone, start tucked forward, finish leaning aft

Like Hand Roll 1. But with two hands hooked together during arc motion.

See Straight Jacket Roll; AKA  Body Roll

One Hand, Backwards Leaning Hand Roll

Like Hand Roll 1. But with one hand.

Roll with the arms crossed, arms must stay pressed to chest.    AKA Body Roll, No Hands Roll

Two-handed, Backwards Leaning Hand Roll

Two-handed forward setup, forward recovery hand roll

Two-stroke, Backwards Leaning Hands Roll

The following abbreviations and notations are used:

The name most commonly used to refer to the roll.  I have taken the liberty of shortening names; where they include a description of the roll.  These have been shortened to capture the essence of the roll with the comments including the distinguishing characteristics.  E.g. Sculling Roll 1 etc.  The numbers are only to distinguish the same name used for different rolls.

Important note for reference: The names of some of the Greenland rolls are now available in Greenlandic on the Qajaq USA web site.  For copyright reasons, I haven’t included them here.
A link in the Name column will take you to a web site that describes or shows the roll.

Sweep or Brace according to Dutky’s classification of rolls, based on the mechanics of the roll, not the name.  A sweep roll is one where the righting moment is generated primarily by a sweeping or sculling motion of the paddle or righting device.  A brace roll is one where the righting moment is generated primarily by a bracing action.

The primary origin of the roll.  Rolls that are used in multiple places are documented as to their most likely origin, otherwise listed as Unknown.

Greenland – if followed by a C, it is a competition roll

Documented source of reference and information on the roll.  Book, web page, individual etc.  This is not the creator of the roll, only the documenter.
A link in this column will take you to a note about the source.

Invert and hold the paddle above the hull of the kayak. Scull the paddle in the air to provide “purchase”. Then perform a Straight Jacket Roll. Easy, right? Attributed to the infamous Dubside

A roll where one keeps a “widget” (hat, cigarette, doll etc); dry by placing it on the underside of the kayak hull as the paddler inverts.  When righting, the paddler reaches around the hull from the other side and retrieves the widget, keeping it dry.  Also known as the “Dry Hat Roll”, the “Dry Cigarette Roll”; the  “Save The Baby Roll”, “Top Hat Roll” and others.

Two paddlers capsize next to each other and wet exit discreetly.  They exchange kayaks and roll up.  Best done in murky water or where a low angle of view prevents the intended audience from seeing what happens underwater.

From Freya: “Here is another “trick roll”: stick your head inside the kayak, with the tummy up and back down. Grab the footpegs, capsize and roll up WITH YOUR LEGS! (Done 2 x in a creative “Fun with Foster” class at Seakayak Georgia symposium 2004; another time playing around with Peter Unold in Denmark…)”

One paddler stands on the rear deck of the kayak and walks around the kayak hull as the sitting paddler rolls the kayak. Moreover, I saw a video clip where a paddler wrapped a towel around the bow of his kayak and had his Jack Russell Terrier walk around the kayak; while he rolled. Cute!

As the regular continous storm roll. But the paddle stays unseen below the surface of the water; not on top of the hull.
Another variant is to do the roll with a layback instead of the forward recovery of the standard storm roll.

Invert, place the paddle parallel to the keel on the bottom of the hull; (now up in the air).  Let everyone know you’re still alive by moving your hands etc.  However, when you are ready, wiggle your hips, causing the paddle to fall in the water on one side.  Grab the paddle and roll up with something like a Butterfly roll.

Invert and sweep the paddle in a circle.  Keep sweeping until you run out of air.  Then do a sweep roll to right yourself.  Also called a 360 Roll (or 720, 1080… ).

Perform an Under The Paddle Roll repeatedly.  AKA Perpetual Storm Roll.

Paddler holds the paddle in the normal grip position – no extension.

A paddler is in the combat position if they are holding the paddle with the hands in a normal grip position and are sitting ready to paddle.

A paddle is extended if held with one hand at or near the tip of one blade and the other on the shaft.

Paddle held as in a high brace, with the palms up and the power face of the blade down.  A safe high brace position keeps the elbows close to the body and below the shoulders.  Extending the arm in a high brace puts the shoulder at risk.

A slow, measured rotation of the kayak about its long axis .  Named for the hip motion. But the action is usually initiated with the knee against the knee brace.  Used in conjunction with many sweep rolls; where a more gradual recovery is required than in brace rolls. Keep this for future reference.

A rapid rotation of the kayak around its long axis.  Named due to the hip rotating quickly. But the action is usually initiated with the knee against the knee brace.  Used frequently in brace rolls where rapid recovery is required.

A position where the paddler’s shoulders and head are resting against the rear deck of the kayak.  If the layback doesn’t put the body in contact with the rear deck, the paddler will not have minimized their rotational inertia.

Paddle held as in a low brace, with the palms down and the power face of the blade up.  Good technique keeps the arms to the side, elbows above the hands and the body leaning slightly forward.

Like an extended paddle. But with one hand at or near the root of one blade and the other on the shaft.  Simply an extension less than the full extended paddle position.

Body position where the torso is bent forward to touch the foredeck of the kayak.

“Contributions to Kayak Studies”, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Mercury Series, Canadian Ethnology Service, Paper 122. 1991. Call number: E53 C3 no.122″

Kayak Rolling ; The Black Art Demystified. ISBN# 0953195686. I’ve not seen this book and can’t comment on it. But I’ll list it here so you know it exists for reference.

Sea Kayaker Magazine,  Winter 1992 issue, page 54

“Building the Greenland Kayak – A Manual for its Construction and Use”. Ragged Mountain Press, 2003, ISBN 0-07-139237-8

Shoulder Flick discovered while practicing various rear deck initiated rolls.  Not sure if this is a known roll and if so, what its proper name is. Derived loosely on some variations of training exercises shown in the hand rolling section of Hutchison’s book.
The Draw Roll came to me out of the blue and I tried it to see if it would work – it seemed like a logical variation paralleling the screw roll.

I first met this guy in South Carolina in a rolling course. He’s one of a kind and truly an outstanding kayak roller. He has recently won the rolling competition in the Greenland Championships in the International category. He can body roll a Feathercraft with a 25 inch beam.
His cross deck (opposite arm) rolls are documented by him in Winter 2005 Masik

“The Bombproof Roll and Beyond”, 1st ed., Menasha Press, 1993, ISBN 0-89732-085-9 (now in 2nd ed.)

“The Kayak Roll”, appendix in Adney and Chapelle, “The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats Of North America”, Smithsonian Institute Press, 1983, ISBN 1-56098-296-9

Post on Qajaq USA forum. Also trick rolls in a private e-mail from her. The “bra roll” was mentioned by Alex Pak on QajaqUSA and attributed to Freya.
Freya’s a pretty awesome roller and is famous for doing headstands in skin-on-frame kayaks; for future reference.

“Eskimo Rolling”, 2nd Ed., Ragged Mountain Press, 1992,  ISBN 0-87742-365-3 (now in 3rd ed.)

An online encyclopedia of kayaking. Kayak Wiki A good source of general kayaking information.

Taught to me at the East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival by Ray (possibly with assistance of Margaret Killen)

Personal communication.  Jed tells me he learned it from Fern Usen (Inukshuk Kayaking). But its origins remain unclear.

Post on Qajaq USA forum. I had never heard this term before this.

Post on Qayaq USA Greenland Discussion Forum lead me to the web page. http://waldenqajaqsociety.org/on_about.html

Paddler Magazine,  in July/August 2001 – also on web site listed under Links

Gerry David’s web site on a hand roll derived from a balance brace.

Videos of Greenland kayaking techniques for sale. “Rolling With Maligiaq” features the maneuvers that are described on the Qajaq USA site.

This referencet is an excellent primer on kayak rolling originally written by Rob Hignell. It is often copied; not always with proper credit. Furthermore, the original url is no longer active and this link is to one supported by Atlantic Tours. Presented with permission of Rob Hignell.
There are copies on other web sites as well.

This is a decent web site, though ultimately it’s to get you to buy the videos.  Kent Ford and company make a number of kayaking and canoeing videos and this is the e-book based on their rolling video.  It shoes a couple of rolls – the Screw Roll and C-C and discusses alternative rolls briefly.

Qajaq USA web site: Capsize Maneuvers Performed at the Greenland Kayaking Championships  There are also video clips on the web site as well as the names of the rolls in Greenlandic.

Cheri is one of the best kayak rollers around. Her web site has several video clips of Cheri performing a variety of rolls. Views are from both above and below water. Quite good!

This is a non-exhaustive list of rolling videos and DVDs. I do not endorse any of these specifically. However, they are presented so that you have some idea of what’s out there. If you know of one not listed here, let me know.Note that there are several online video clips that are good. See the Links section above.

I have “Rolling with Maligiaq” and it’s very good. The only source and reference I know of for this video is Jessie Heath’s web site.

Greg Stamer speaks highly of “Greenlanders at Kodiak.” To quote from Qayaq USAThis is an older video that I learned most of the rolls from. Even better is to have this video and “Rolling with Maligiaq” so that you can compare how two very different and very talented athletes complete the same roll. John Petersen and Maligiaq have different styles, so you can learn a lot by studying their similarities and differences.

The only source and reference I know of for this video is Jessie Heath’s web site.

The only place I’ve found that sells it seems to be: Newfound Boat Works

Looks like another Kent Ford video – his stuff is usually good. With Dan Crandall, Mary DeRiemer, Phil DeRiemer, and Kent Ford.

Grace Under Pressure: Learning Kayak Roll

Never seen it. Whitewater stuff. EJ’s someone to respect.

Promised; but not available yet for future reference. These folks made “The Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic” and others that have been positively reviewed, so there’s hope.