Kayak

I am teaching students to roll kayaks this summer in Southern Vermont or Northeast Pennsylvania in controlled and gentle environments. Rolling a kayak is a vital life-saving skill in some whitewater scenarios. Whether you have aspirations to send waterfalls one day, just want to be prepared for any unpredictable conditions that come your way, or learn something about yourself as a learner, the difficult progression and achievement you can experience rolling a kayak can be intoxicating!

Rolling a kayak can sometimes induce anxiety in some students, so I want you to be aware of the progression path beforehand. We start on dry land on a tarp in our kayaks. We wear all of our warm gear that we would normally wear for a cold day on the water to simulate real-life conditions. Most students spend at least an hour or more on dry land practice until they are feeling confident in the muscle movements and motions necessary. The first thing to learn before actually introducing rolling is the wet exit, the emergency eject that every whitewater kayaker has used at some point in their progression. We take our lesson to a small still pool, and we slowly introduce your body and mind to being submerged. We practice the wet exit, breath holding, the dry land motions in water, and we begin learning to roll. Many kayakers spend years learning and practicing their roll. Poor technique can lead to failed rolls or shoulder injuries, so it’s something to make sure you’re consistently practicing before embarking in trips outside of your comfort zone. Of the three students I have taken on this progression path, all have achieved a roll within a few days of practice. I have gear anyone smaller than a Large may borrow to learn! Let me know if you have any questions, and don’t hesitate to reach out!