Customer Reviews

The Kayak Roll [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this DVD after struggling to learn the roll, and finally learned it on the second pool session after watching it. Before watching the video, I was taught to first learn to bring myself up after a near-capsize using a sweeping brace, which I learned, but then I failed to apply that to the mechanics of the roll when upside-down under water, where all your instincts are the reverse of the correct motions.

This video teaches some exercises to progressively work your way to a full capsize -- first without the paddle and just using your knees. Then the instructor holds you by your lifejacket, with your face just above water, to teach you the sweeping motion of the paddle and the corresponding knee motion.

The video has very good production values, including animation and underwater camera angles. The last half of the video also contains diagnostics for common mistakes, and teaches you how to instruct others on doing the roll.

It was mostly filmed in a slow-moving river with whitewater kayaks, but also shows some sea-kayak-specific scenes, and the whole video applies to either form of kayaking. It even has some pretty amazing footage of kayakers riding some pretty serious ocean surf.

Simply stated, if you want to learn how to roll a WW kayak, go no further than this video. It breaks down the roll into its component parts, both for instruction before the fact and diagnosis & corrections after the fact. It pinpoints all the little nuances of this necessary WW skill, right down to hand and eye positions, and does so in a fashion that is upbeat and inspiring. You want to run right out to the pool and practice!That the video features average people - not kayak superstars - permits the viewer to relate to each scene. My fiance and I both learned to roll 100% from viewing this video, over and over. We continue to use it as a reference tool, and have lent it to other people wanting to get into WW kayaking. Buy it - it's cheaper than a... private lesson, and just as effective, since you can repeat it as often as you want/need.

I spent MONTHS trying to learn the C-to-C roll, including classes, books and pool practice sessions. At best my roll was 50/50. I got this video, which teaches the sweep roll as opposed to the C-to-C roll, and after really studying it (i.e., watching attentively at least 5 times, all the way through), I was able to successfully do a sweep roll on only my second attempt, and it's only been getting better since then. This video is a good explanation of a good technique for rolling the kayak.

I finally picked this DVD up a year ago, watched it a couple times through last winter. Got it out in early spring, watched it again. Went out and still bombed a few attempts. Payed closer attention and within an hour was popping rolls fairly frequently. Excellent teaching tool, by the end of the summer I was rolling on both sides, fully loaded sea kayak. Rough water, cold water. Just put the boat away for the winter two weeks ago, here in MN, no open water left. Last thing I did before the end of the season, a couple of real cold rolls.

All of the reviews seem to agree that this is an excellent instructional video. I concur, I would just like to add that in addition to being an effective style of roll, it is also VERY easy on your shoulders.

After a few seasons of failure and shoulder pain attempting to do a C-to-C roll I plunked down the money for this video. It was well worth it. It still took a few sessions to master (mainly just forcing myself to do what the video tells me to do!) but I now have a solid, trustworthy roll, and don't really have pain in my shoulders. It's true, once you have a roll your confidence and ability really starts to improve.

After watching this video about 5 times and after already having taken a certified rolling class twice before, successfully I might add, I went out with my kayak to a lake, sure that I could easily pull this roll off; after all, they make it look so easy in the video, and, I've rolled before. Well, there I was underwater realizing I must have forgotten something because it was NOT anywhere near as easy as in the video. Two reasons are: 1)it is incredibly disorientating upside down and 2)the video is never taken from the kayaker's perspective, but from a person looking at the kayaker, so you get a mirror effect.
Two weeks later I took another rolling class, this time a private lesson from a certified instructor. This time he had me use my greenland paddle and do a "pawlata" roll, which is best for beginners. During the lesson I rolled successfully three times. So, my recommendation would be to rent this video and watch it, but then get instruction somewhere from someone who knows what they're doing. Rolling is sort of like learning to ride a bike, but in this case, a unicycle. It takes lots of practice and having an instructor is preferred. The video itself recommends that you get an instructor.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the good reviews of this product were true. This roll worked for me pretty much right away, albeit with some paddle float practice first.

I do think they should have mentioned paddle float use in the video. It helps to build the muscle memory required to get this roll to work. However, the roll does feel very different without the float of course. Use your best judgement.

I also found that I had to move fairly slowly in order to get my sea kayak to come up. This roll still works if you slow down quite a bit.

Trust the sweep - water becomes like rock when that paddle is moving.

I saw this video at a roll tune-up class and then bought my own copy for review. They teach the "twist-sweep" roll which seems safer and more protective of your shoulder than some others. The learning progression is effective and the roll technique focuses on the strength of your torso rather than your arms. I had degenerated from a solid c-to-c roll to something pretty sloppy and this video and a tune up class are helping me get back to something fluid and reliable.

The second half has a lot of diagnostic and corrective hints for ironing out weaknesses in your style.

It definitely helps to have an instructor to help manipulate the paddle and get you to relax your arms and hands on the paddle. The paddle is used mostly as a guide, not as a lever.

I ordered this video the day before I hit my face on a rock and got 8 stitches all because of a missed roll ... a little foreshadowing? I watched this video today, went out into the river to practice and bam! I'm back. Of course I've been collecting and practicing a whole host of bad habits all summer long which finally culminated in the complete destruction of my previously bomb proof roll. I can't believe how thorough this video is. One video was able to help me discern all the wrong things I was doing -- it is RockStar. thank you!!!

[...]

This video is fantastic in it's presentation of the kayak roll. It is clear, concise and well documented, reinforced and illustrated. All of the presenters are qualified instructors, and this is the first dvd I have seen that slows the process down and even breaks down each step into a practice. I highly recommend it to anyone who kayaks. You will not roll overnight but you will NOT roll at all without this dvd.