EJ's Techniques for Teaching the Whitewater Kayak Roll

[@ccatdaddy64]

I was a new kayaker and met EJ and asked "have you been kayaking for a while"? EJ said "a little bit". I proceeded to ask questions and he answered. Talked for like an hour. Then others asked "you know him"? "You know who that was? " Very humble a patient.

[@alexdematanecoursdekayak1030]

All the EJ video are underrated, especially the ones about teaching roll technique. I'm an instructor with 21 years of experience and I've learned a lot from EJ's VHS cassettes back in the days! Still learning today! Side note: I've meet Eric Jackson in Mexico and on the Ottawa river in Canada. Sure he is the most iconic talented kayaker that I know, but above all, he is such a gentleman and a positive leader. There was a lot of trash on the Alseseca river put in (Mexico). Before going into the river, he grabs some garbage bag and one minute latter, all the kayakers around was helping him cleaning the spot.

[@panhouska]

Apart from the best rolling tutorial ever...this is hands down one of the best teacher videos and tips you can find. Great teacher and great approach.

[@robertkee7534]

I agree

[@jacobharless1297]

Eric Jackson saying "Success, Success, Success, Success" is my alarm clock

[@Nashy76]

This is not just the best rolling tutorial 8ve seen but the best teaching tutorial I've ever seen. And not just kayaking but handling students of any skill class. Thankyou.

[@jillbailey5133]

Thanks so much for this, Eric. I had a bad experience learning to roll, 14 years ago, at age 50. I'm not sure what was or was not right but it took me multiple lessons before getting my first roll. I was active and relatively athletic and my weeks of struggling really surprised and frustrated me. Eventually I achieved a good roll and brace but I never trusted it and I gave up on whitewater kayaking a few years later; it was just never fun enough to overcome the dread I felt above a rapid. (The fact that I hated swimming in our icy Idaho rivers didn't help.) I've never stopped thinking about the fun parts though and have been contemplating starting over. Coming across this video was the tipping point - I'm heading out to the garage to dust off my boat right now.

[@sarahcoomber1031]

Me too but I'm stubborn and just carried on doing WW - 6 years to any sort of WW roll and it's still only 40%.

[@boeandthelizards]

My fav video ever made about any topic. So many important principles for success & learning in all areas of life & community. Thanks EJ! Learning to roll a kayak at the age of 9 was a right of passage for me in my life and gave me the confidence to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and achieve anything I set my mind to. I'm now 40 years old and still remember that moment. These teaching moments in our lives transform us and the people around us. Again thank you EJ for sharing the true method for success.

[@Lea99Jones]

My introduction to kayaking was with Adventure Schools (Steve Popkin and Eric Jackson) in 1993. Having been a bodysurfer in my teen years, I had no problem with being under the boat getting trashed in whitewater (I'm super tall from the waist up, so flipping was easy!). We went to Ottawa for a 5 day camping/kayaking trip on the Ottawa. EJ took a few of us out for an evening run through Colosseum... I missed my approach (eddy right) & paddled straight into the maw of that big breaking wave. Brick wall. With a solid roll (taught by EJ), I didn't swim... EJ was laughing his ass off, though. "Lea, you shoulda seen your face!" No doubt, EJ.

[@joshuaatwells]

An honor to learn instruction from the master. Thanks!

[@fuckfaceunstoppable4052]

This video is so incredibly in depth. I love it

[@o__odemon8915]

Going for my kayaking instructors courses as soon as I pay my car off. This was very helpful and educational thanks a lot Eric

[@kcx9156]

Good info... Yes we get further with compliments then criticism...especially with the childrens.

[@richardseagraves9806]

The passion for sharing the sport is so admirable.

[@jimcarroll5283]

Master class by Master Educator.... Thanks for Sharing

[@hansgooderick7492]

Great video Eric, certainly the best tutorial I’ve seen to learn the roll. Thanks

[@ericemerson1836]

Dude, you are so awesome! I learned how to paddle 40 years ago, and literally forgotten how I learned. I'm trying to teach a friend. This is exactly what I need. Thank you.

[@dhavidamadeus8072]

I don't even own no kayak, but this tutorial is awsome! caught my atention throught it so nicely that I'm pretty sure I can roll the damn thing if even step inside one. Lol Thanks youtube random algorythm!

[@shaneshankly4518]

Excellent information 👌 most videos take only of paddle movements fir rolling Eric has it spot on when he tell its nearly all about the hip snap

[@Aquaticteach]

A fantastic analysis of thought and action, a marvellous process and demonstration. Excellent

[@Giftm1scher]

Thank you for the valuable insights. I'll try to adopt your methods with an friend who struggles with the roll for quite some time now.

[@mackleblapppy4880]

Absolute legend. Love this guy

[@Chris.p.moyles]

Outstanding. Thanks. I have switched from teaching in the water to teaching from the boat and it makes complete sense.

[@tankmaster1018]

This is absolutely fantastic! Thanks so much Eric Edit: Lmfao at 11:02 in the video... Great advice for any teacher. I absolutely refused to believe that my instructor wasn't secretly helping me or assisting in my rolls somehow because it felt like it should have been much harder then it turned out being. My instructors solution was to climb out of the pool and make me do it by myself in the deep end!

[@kathryns560]

Brilliant, Eric - your fan, Mothra

[@SouthernYak]

Eric- thanks for uploading this video! You have some great tips and insights on how to make sure the student physically and psychologically succeeds as they learn to roll.

[@gregschindler184]

I'm finishing a cedar strip yak for my 18 yr old daughter. This video gave all the tools I need to teach her to successfully roll and not be afraid of being in a kayak. Thanks SO MUCH for putting this video out!

[@scottsdalevista]

Eric, love your videos and books. Especially enjoy in this lesson the importance of preventing overthinking, and if so back to the prior step and the focus on positive encouragement and celebrating success. You're a genius in integrating sports psychology in developing kayaking skills. Everything is explained in a logical and easily understood manner. Please keep up writing and producing your excellent videos!

[@ryanfarley4463]

Great video!!! All about mindset.

[@jeffarcher400]

Professor! You should teach teachers. If I had a math teacher with the no fail method I wouldn't have math anxiety.

[@pamelamclay-henderson9414]

From one teacher to another - YOU are an EXCELLENT teacher!! P-E-R=F-E-C-T!!!!- Teaching technique!! VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!

[@wirduswirdelicus4634]

Excellent sharing of physical skills training experience. Truly a meta-lesson on how to psych up and instill confidence in new forms of bodily freedom. A teaching on how to teach essential kayaking skills, fine sensory-motor emergency reflexes and beyond. I am grateful for your video

[@SunShine-yd5xu]

Please, where is your location taking kayaking (rolling) classes ? Thanks.

[@ericplloyd]

This isn't even gold; this is platinum.

[@sticksstones8498]

Thank you Eric, The perfect video for teaching technique. I would love to get "In the know" I heard somewhere something about a DVD.

[@scottfirefly]

This is really good

[@simonFellows-p3c]

Thank you very much.

[@kayasper6081]

Success, success, succes. I never thought about that, but it seems to be a good strategy. Thanks!

[@brucewatney4416]

Very very well described, most helpful video. Can see exactly where i was going wrong. Right hand up after rolling is the key.

[@andydainty6055]

Awesome video, still need to sort my role out. Wish I lived down the road from you...

[@absbox_]

You're a genius

[@peterkentbanner8074]

I wish i live in the states so you can teach me...

[@marianokyk]

master! gracias!!!

[@ArcFlashWarning]

EJ, We need tips or advice on moving our rolling from flatwater to whitewater. Please consider adding this to your teaching series. Me and 3 friends are having trouble rolling when it matters but no matter how we flip in flatwater, we can rollup every time, first time.

[@domer8t8]

I'm no EJ, but I remember that a big difference when going from flatwater to whitewater was to let the boat settle down before attempting the roll. It usually doesn't take two seconds, but can make all the difference. If that isn't the problem, it could be that you aren't getting to your starting position easily enough, in which case you may be trying to push your blade into starting position without slicing it there. This is rarely talked about in the pool. Good luck!

[@tjb8841]

In my case it was fear, confidence, whatever you call it. I could roll amazingly on purpose. Left, right, with a broom stick, with one hand, with someone flipping over from behind, no problem. But on real water, involuntarily? With current or surf? I would ‘rip and flip’, and not even try, or try poorly. Then, one day, about two years after my first solid roll in on purpose, I made combat roll, and I have not swam since (20 years, but not much paddling)

[@Lea99Jones]

Find a section of short section of moving water (with your friends) and practice rolling in it. EJ's whole approach is about incremental advances. So you can simulate...

[@Lea99Jones]

@@domer8t8Yup, get your hands in the air, swing out to 90 degrees, and snap.

[@franciscoburgos938]

my teacher kayak learned with me lol very good form for teach the roll! thanks! if you can in simple words how read the lines in the river please! saludos desde chile

[@jeffarcher400]

I was taught position one sweep to the tail. It works but I never understood why and felt like a hail Mary. Thanks.

[@ccatdaddy64]

I remember that first magical day when I rolled. When she said "you did that!" I was like nah. She said "guys , did I help him?" They said "NO".. I was so happy. BTW, she was new herself, perhaps her second year. Men with years and years experience tried. This woman, I believe it's the because I felt comfortable with her as well as how she explained things.

[@idrivetransportation]

Awesome, thank you!

[@georgewilliamssr5230]

Great tech. and advise. But I've had to simply this even more for the older crowd who can't flex their backs like that. It usually takes about an hour for these folks to get a roll. Longer for those who have had OTHER roll classes.

[@mynameisneb]

So is there a reason why some learn sweep roll or c2c roll? It looks like you're teaching c2c, I can see where a c2c would be better in current, however I learned the sweep. I usually come up, however watching this I feel like I may need to practice my c2c more

[@alexibarra4675]

Notice how he’s a pro in a pool but has a life jacket on... that’s how you know you can trust someone to teach you

[@slukayak]

Super helpful video, we are now using this strategy/technique to teach rolls at practice now. Two questions: Should we have our students wear a lifejacket when practicing in the pool with lifeguards where the water is chest deep? Does having a lifejacket on making it easier to learn a roll, and do a roll?

[@Zplintz23]

I would say you shouldn't be going out in the wild without a lifejacket so why learn to roll without one. Even in a pool with multiple lifeguards you can still be missed in a crowded pool too so not a bad idea to wear one.

[@jeffarcher400]

I'd say wear it. It's bulky and constricting but you will have it on when you need it so get used to it. It provides lift to horizontal also. Probably best to try with and without in case you flip without one someday. Lakes and bays.

[@nmartin5551]

Since the PFD is part of the required gear, learning without is…?

[@Ak-im7bo]

I guess the question is can you do this with any type of kayak? Does the kayak have to be enclosed?

[@jmbcars]

Yeah or it'll just fill up with water or you'll fall out

[@Lea99Jones]

Am I the only teacher who didn't have students lying back on their boat at the end of the roll? I understand it lowers the center of gravity, but I never liked the idea of having faces exposed to the bottom of the river at any time.

[@jadetteom]

I was wondering about teaching that too 😅

[@Zplintz23]

Heart felt thanks.

[@jcrowe3065]

I've tried this yesterday. I couldn't get my hip snap

[@suecollado8696]

I would love to re-learn with you, I gave up kayaking after a bad accident trying sea kayaking where a freak wave dumped me upside down where I remained wedged by my kayak for just over 3.2 minutes, I thought I was dead those with me tried & failed to get to me, it felt as though someone was with me pushing the kayak away from me & up I popped the sea became calm which allowed me to swim into a cove unfortunately the only way out was by kayak but since then I’ve never rolled

[@bennyummer]

thanks eric, this is great. although i would appreciate it if you showed more examples of what you're talking about while you're talking about it and less camera time with you just talking about it. especially when you're talking about how to correct them (save them) when they're messing up. showing all the things that can go wrong and how to correct them would give me more confidence in taking on this very important task of teaching someone, which, as you say, it's imperative that they don't get scared while learning. thanks again, you're awesome!

[@artnoll]

that is some solid wishful thinking

[@frankbush8368]

Who else gets water in the ears if their head is sideways upon entry, even slightly? Every single example in this video of a person getting their head under would flood my ear with water. That's one of the biggest things stopping me. Frustrating.