Learn to Roll your Kayak Using a Paddle Float

I recommend taking a class in kayak rolling but if you can't for some reason here are some tips how to learn to do a Sweep Roll on your own using a paddle float.
You don't need a swimming pool to learn to roll even though filming the steps in a pool greatly improves the video quality. Try to find some warm water (alternatively use a dry/wetsuit) which is about 1m or 3-4 feet deep to practise in so you can rescue yourself using your paddle against the bottom. Or of course if you have a paddle buddy beside you he/she help you with buddy rescue.
Even if you don't succeed to roll without a paddle float, you can make use of a 'float sweep roll' after doing a reentry. Faster and easier than climbing in!
NOTE: This roll is not suitable for white water kayakers. They need to learn to protect their faces by leaning forward during their roll. Parts of this sweep role may still be applicable but not all.
In the video I refer to viewing other KZbin videos for more specific 'hip snap' exercises, here is a an old but good one • Kayak Roll ~a film fro... (hip snap starts at 2m2s).
Instead of a buddy's kayak bow, you can use a paddle float, pool edge or the shore to hang on to.
If you do succeed to learn to roll using my video, please comment below.
Good luck!
P.S. Make sure you have a strong paddle before using it for support during kayak entry/exit. I am NOT responsible if you break your paddle.
If you want to support me, you can donate a $2 beer or any chosen amount below.
Support my channel: paypal.me/seakayakingsweden

[@monsterkayaking3700]

Best rolling vid on KZbin..

[@pabloenriquetirabassi7060]

I love this video, very useful for those of us who have not yet decided to practice the roll👏👏👏

[@jasonwalker7166]

I struggled with learning to roll for two years..... got one of these paddle floats.... after a couple of sessions.... I finally got it. The float bag allows you to work on that hip snap by slowly releasing air out the bag. Plus you can practice by yourself.... without having to swim each time.

[@mfred2]

Glad you finally got it, congrats! Yes, this method has a lot of benefits and avoids a lot of swimming 😎

[@matthewm3927]

I learned to roll yesterday using your techniques in the video - thanks for taking the time to film them!

[@mfred2]

Congrats! Thanks for letting me know! Appreciative comments are what keeps me going…

[@brianpitt5428]

Really good for teaching muscle memory and building confidence as most paddlers will relax more knowing they will get back up in time ....and perhaps even enjoy being upside down ,which is what freaked me out the most .Learned more about my mistakes from this vid than any other .Thanks

[@mfred2]

Thanks Brian! Good point you made, yes it is very important to learn to take your time and not rush things. For instance if you are in too much of a hurry you might skip firmly re-seating yourself (incase you slipped around in the kayak when going over) in which case you will most likely fail to roll up. Glad you found it useful. Good luck with your rolls!

[@staffordvideoproductions5788]

Beautifully illustrated. I also think it’s a great demonstration on how calm the paddler can be.

[@mfred2]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@travice89]

Because of covid restrictions in my area I was unable to attend kayak lessons for hands on instructions. This video by far has the BEST instructions I have found on KZbin for someone to learn how to roll without another person around to assist. Thank you so much for teaching me how to do my first roll. I would recommend this method to anybody wanting to learn.

[@mfred2]

Congratulations! Welcome to my channel and thank you for your feedback. Please share with friends! Why don’t you buy yourself and me a beer to celebrate with the money you saved 😉 If you do, you’ll be the second name on my list of supporters. I don’t make videos very frequently but I have a whole bunch on my channel mostly about kayak tours (Best of SeaKayakingSweden 2014 - 2020 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3uZmptqmK2ijrM) but also about lifting kayaks on to a car, storing kayaks, pool practice and more…

[@jonathanhamnett4044]

Thank you for making this. This video has been the most helpful learning tool for me for one main reason: POV shot of direction blade needs to take across the water. Countless rolling tutorials only show on-deck angle of paddler, which is in my opinion of no use to me when I'm upside down trying to guide my paddle right. Why it has taken so long for someone to film this clearly seems odd to me as if I understood from watching someone else roll how it works I wouldn't need to watch a video. Great stuff thanks again!

[@mfred2]

Glad you found it useful! I made this video since we have in our pool sessions found that using a paddle float is a great way to teach people how to sweep roll. The video is used during our roll classes and I wanted to share it on KZbin with the hope that kayakers could teach themselves. So I’m grateful for your positive feedback!

[@Matt-cc1jv]

I would suggest you fasten a flat piece of floating foam to your blade to also be able to skim the blade quickly on the surface, which you can't do quickly with an inflatable float. That works much like you would do this just a paddle blade, but lets you start by walking through it in slow mothion at first. I cut a slot for the blade into a 5cm by 30cm by 45cm piece of relatively stiff, but still flexible foam. I've taught a lot of friends to roll this way. At first starting from upright and working backwards to lower yourself closer and closer to the water and then reversing that motion to to bring yourself upright again. It is sort of like winding up for the roll.

[@ropits360]

Hi, you can say now *you have remotely taught kayak rolling* with this technique. I had my 4 normal rolls today and I have very good feelings, I made the rolls very easily and I am quite confident that now with more practice I can achieve a very good roll technique. I used *an extra trick* that is very important to make the transition from paddle float to the final roll: *progressively deflate de paddle float* , this way you need to improve the hip snap and you can do it progressively with a smooth transition from float to no float. I got stuck during a couple of sessions, I was able to roll the kayak with a paddle float quite empty and with very little force on the paddle but when I removed the float I was not able to roll. The mistake I made without float is that I tried to do a fast roll and was not able to synchronize the hip snap and I made too much force with the paddle at the beginning of the movement. I came back to the paddle float trying to interiorize well the synchronization and then removed the float and tried to mimic the roll with the float, starting slow and making a strong hip snap when the paddle was at 90o. I made 4 successful rolls of 5 intents and the one that failed I was able to recover with a Pawlatta roll. I stopped there by lack of time. I have my first rolling lesson with an instructor tomorrow! Ha, ha, I had scheduled long time ago, I will start rolling lessons already rolling, I am sure he will improve my technique anyway. Thanks for all.

[@mfred2]

Congratulations! Well done! To my knowledge you are the first person to learn to roll using my video. Yes, progressively deflating your paddle float is a very good way to progress from a float roll to a roll with no float. By reducing the support the float provides you learn to sweep without pulling down on the paddle before its time to start the hip snap. Hope your instructor helps you become more confident with your rolls faster than if you only continued practicing on your own! If you don't mind, please share what you learned during your instructor lessons. Hope you have a great kayak season and do a lot of rolling!

[@ropits360]

​@@mfred2 Hi, I had my first instructor lesson yesterday. I believe I did not improve my roll that day, in fact my rolls were worse than the day before and I failed like 50% of them but he gave me some advices for the roll (and not only the roll) that I believe will help, like the position of the arms and hand on the set up and a few exercises. Now I need to get again in the water to practice more. With an instructor or my friends I feel sometimes they told me too many things and is impossible to interiorize them, when I am alone, I am more relaxed and can focus in just one thing at the time. So may be this is the right approach use videos and an instructor to get ideas and detect what is not working well and then practice on my on on the water. I will came back to the paddle float again a few times before trying again the roll. Also I will practice with the float on the other side because thanks to the practice with the paddle float I have a very good high brace on the right but not on the left, I will try to improve now my high brace on the left. I won´t pay you the $2, I don´t have a Paypal account but if some day I go to Sweden or you come to Barcelona you deserve a beer and much more. Thanks

[@markph0204]

I learned to roll months ago. I think your video is great. I eventually took lessons and the sweep roll was the first for me. You nailed the instruction. Subscribing to check out other videos.

[@Jaro_slav]

Hi from Slovakia, thanks a lot for your kayaking travels. It only one way, how I'm able to be in nature, because of my paralysis.

[@mfred2]

Hi Jaroslav. I’m glad you like my videos and that they give nature experiences. I think many viewers find my videos to be too long, but I guess that you prefer them long. Have you seen my video on kayaking Dalslandskanal? There are 2 parts (day 1-9 + day 10-13) or a combined shorter version (day 1-13). Another video I can recomnend is my afternoon kayak trip on the amazing Reinefjorden, Lofoten Norway. Further more I have a roadtrip video on Lofoten which shows alot of beautiful nature. Happy viewing!

[@Jaro_slav]

@@mfred2 Hi Mats. Yes, I saw that way down the canal, through the locks. I am, but a special case. I have a lot of time to watch and memories. I like longer videos. In the video I just need the sounds of nature, without music. You make videos of yourself to make you happy. I enjoy every video, both short and long. I wish you good luck

[@earlelliott9549]

Excellent

[@lorez8388]

Brilliant. Thank you so much, I intend to practice this way!

[@mfred2]

Thanks Lorez! Glad I inspired you. Let me know if you succeed to learn to roll using these techniques. If so you will be the first one (or at least the first one that tells me about it). Good luck!

[@lorez8388]

Finally got around to trying your float assisted technique. It works great. The float provides reassurance and power for the roll and I soon progressed to rolling without the float. Thank you!

[@john-wq8kf]

Hi it’s actually easy to learn to roll in a pool with a face mask use it for a couple of short sessions then take mask off maybe use a nose clip and do it without looking usually a couple of twenty minutes pool time,remember the main knack for %100 rolls is hip flick as you come up on your braced paddle.

[@user-ju3fu3hh5j]

Great video, thank you very much, the most problem for me was a fear to be under water, a panic to make a breath immediately, but then you relax under water its easy to do your instactions.

[@mfred2]

Thanks, glad you found it useful! Yes, that’s a side benefit of this approach as you start off not submerging your head at all and then gradually increase how much you submerge and how long you stay submerged. Good luck and please let me know if you successfully learn to roll without a float. But I think the float method is very good in that you can fallback to a float roll incase your normal roll fails you. Reentry and rolling back up with a float roll is something everyone can learn to do.

[@user-ju3fu3hh5j]

@@mfred2 I successfully learned to roll without a float, thank you very much it was a best practacing video for me, now i am going to learn rolls with a greenland paddle...

[@davejoseph5615]

I didn't have much luck with this float bag approach. To me it creates a situation that feels much different than rolling. Rather than doing this I would suggest teaching the Pawlata (extended paddle) roll first.

[@82HEADCASE]

One of the best videos iv watched so far thank you .I will be attempting solo . Great instructional video I look forward to my practice even more!! One question in regards to legs! I'm assuming both thighs will be braced firmly as hip snap is activated? Thanks agen

[@mfred2]

Thanks, glad you found it useful. You do have to brace yourself enough to not slip around in your kayak. I found that when I had purchased my P&H Cetus I slipped around sideways in the seat even if I braced myself with my knees/thighs. After adding some padding to the existing hip padding it became much easier to roll. It shouldn’t be a tight fit though, just enough to stop you from slipping sideways. I would say that I do brace myself with both thighs during the roll but if I am sculling at the surface (good exercise which can help you to recover a bad roll) I only brace on my left leg. And that makes it easier to lay flat on my back in the water. Hip snap is often really a knee lift. So if your are coming out of the water on the right side you pull up on your right knee. Hope that makes sense…

[@82HEADCASE]

@@mfred2 it does indeed make since thanks ... iv a video I added to my channel of my practice and of my hip snap practice if you fancy a look. I did pad the hip areas last time but they ware to tight and hard so it got uncomfortable il re pad it agen this week with softer materal. Your video makes it really easy to follow so I am genuinely looking forward to practicing your steps at the pool session. Thanks agen

[@mfred2]

@@82HEADCASE I took a quick look at your video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX6YpJ6wnK2Vj7s. I saw a lot of good stuff and some things that can be improved. I will comment later today when I have more time.

[@mfred2]

Commenting done...

[@adriaeverett]

What are the purposes or instances that you need to know these maneuvers? Very helpful video though, I am a visual learner so this is great but that was my only question :)

[@mfred2]

Thank you for your interest and asking! Rolling a kayak is mainly about safety but also has some additional merits. Safety: In terms of safety it is quickest (self-)rescue method if you are tipped over by wave or very strong wind gusts. You never have to leave the kayak and thus are more or less dry on your lower body (spray skirt keeps near 100% of the water out) and your kayak is not filled with water which would make the kayak unstable and cold to sit in. By not exiting the kayak there is no chance that the wind will blow the kayak away from you (which could be fatal). A roll is easy to do but hard to learn, no strength needed. Buddy- rescues take a longer time and you might not be able to hold your breath until a buddy comes to your assistance. That would mean you have to do a wet-exit with all the additional negative side effects like emptying the kayak, getting back in, putting the spray skirt again, getting warm again, etc. Additional safety benefits: Knowing how to roll makes it so much easier to learn other advanced paddle strokes (e.g. low support, high support) which can stop you from capsizing or getting better at kayak control like advanced turns which in turn can help you in difficult waves that would otherwise capsize you. You might wonder why it is easier to learn these things when you are able to roll? Simply because you dare to stretch your boundaries when you know you can roll back up without having to do a wet exit and recovery which will take much more time and energy from you. Additional benefits of being able to roll: 1) I roll whenever I am too hot or there are flies or mosquitos that bother you. One roll and you are not bothered by them for at least 5 min 2) I dare more when paddling in waves thus I become a better paddler due to improving my control techniques 3) On the fun side, when curious kids ask what happens if you fall over, I say ‘you mean like this’ and do a roll. 4) A couple of cleaning uses… If I am out on a several day tour and need to wash my hair while the water temp is low, I simply roll once to wet my hair, shampoo my hair, and finally do a ‘rinse roll’ 😉. I also roll if my kayak gets messed up by paddling thru reeves (typically leaves a bunch of insects and plant parts on your deck). Sorry about the long answer, I think I got a bit carried away…. 🥴

[@adriaeverett]

@@mfred2 not a word too many! Thank you so much, that helped me put it all together. 🙏🙏☺️

[@ronchidley3674]

Loved it! Very good instruction and ideas! However the words on screen were too fast! ThankYou!

[@mfred2]

Thanks, glad you liked it! I reviewed my video and I could not find any obvious occurrence of too short text showings. Is there any specific place in the video where you think the texts are too fast. Since the sound in this video is irrelevant you can try slowing the video speed to 75% or 50% in your viewer, that should make it easier to read my instructions.

[@NE-Explorer]

Is it possible to have a defect in the nose such that water rushes into your sinuses?

[@mfred2]

Generally, when you are upside down in the water, water will naturally enter your nose which is a bit uncomfortable especially in chlorinated water. Salt water and brackish water are the least uncomfortable due to the salinity is more or less like your body fluids. I am not sure if it is a defect that water rushes into your sinuses. You probably need to consult a doctor to know if your nose differs from normal noses. To avoid getting water in your nose when upside down, most people either use a nose clip/diving mask or slowly release air through their nose to stop water from coming in. Personally I use a diving mask or nose clip when learning new rolls, sculling 360° i.e. a bit special roll or other exercises when I might fail or spend a bit longer under water. But when rolling outdoors I just let some air out of my nose to keep water from coming in. Hope your nose will not stop you from learning to roll!

[@NE-Explorer]

@@mfred2 Thank you for your encouragement. I will practice my roll with a mask.