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Learn to Eskimo Roll a kayak.

In this material we cover the Hip Snap (used in all roll styles), the Eskimo Rescue, the Sweep Roll and the Brace Roll

THE HIP SNAP
The main part of righting an overturned kayak is called the "hip snap". It is a good idea to learn this movement with the help of an assistant before you try to use a paddle to do the complete maneuver and end up having to exit the boat while upside down. If you don't have the luxury of a swimming pool to practice in then do it in a river using the front of a partner's kayak as shown in the following diagrams. The object of an Eskimo Roll is to bring the boat back under your body with a minimum of effort so you can continue to paddle happily up or down the stream. Trying to push your body up over the kayak is a pointless and very tiring exercise.

	For standardising these instructions it is assumed you are right-handed, and your "on-side" roll would be made in the direction shown in the diagrams. Place both hands on the the front of your partner's kayak and tip your kayak over as far as your body will let it go. Your head should now be resting on your hands, and your left ear very close to your left shoulder. Your left side will be very close to (if not touching) the edge of the cockpit. You will need to tighten your abs (tummy muscles) to keep your kayak at a right angle to your partner's boat. Make sure you keep those muscles tight so you don't begin to lean backwards or you can injure your right shoulder.
	The "Hip snap" is done with a quick, powerful movement. Your right knee is driven firmly into the top of the kayak while your left butt cheek pushes against the seat. The muscles of your trunk do the work in the hip snap. Keep your head resting on your hands while you snap the kayak back upright. The natural instinct is to lift your head out of the water so you can breathe, but you have to go against instinct to be able to do a successful snap and eventually the roll. Keep your head on your hands until the rotating kayak forces it off them.
	This picture shows what is called the "recovery" position. Notice that the head has moved from the left shoulder to the right. Once your kayak is upright you bring your body across to centre it over the kayak. The more you practice this the better you will get at it. Remember.. it should not require a lot of effort.

Just remember...NEVER lift your head and try to push your body up over the kayak. If you do you will put a lot of weight on the bow or your partner's kayak, strain your arms and right shoulder, and you will strain your trunk muscles trying to pull the kayak back under your body. The better you get at performing the snap, the less pressure you will put on the bow of your partner's kayak. Keep practicing until you can do it just with a few fingers supporting you. As you practice the snap, put your head under the water further and further, eventually having only one hand on the bow of your partner's kayak. This allows your body to go further under the kayak, and the kayak to become completely inverted. Reach up with your loose hand, bringing your head and body close to the surface, and then do the snap with minimal pressure on your partner's kayak.

THE ESKIMO RESCUE

With this skill mastered you can now perform an "Eskimo Rescue" with the assistance of a partner. If you do flip over your partner can paddle to you and you will be able to reach up to the bow of his/her kayak and perform your snap to get upright again. If you do get tipped over you need to sit forward (those abs working again!), reach your arms around your kayak and thump the bottom of it several times (inset picture) to tell your partner you need help. Then slowly slide your hands back and forth along the sides of your kayak so you will feel when your rescuer arrives to assist you.

Now that you can confidently snap back up with assistance, it's time to try to get upright by using your paddle to aid your buoyancy. There are two basic types of roll that are explained here: The Sweep Roll, and the Brace Roll. Both are effective. It's a matter of personal choice which style you use.

The Sweep Roll
Back to top | Brace Roll

SETUP This diagram shows the setup position for a right hand sweep roll. (The brace roll setup is the same.) Do a situp to your left side (working those abs again..) and push your hands up out of the water, keeping your forearms against the side of your kayak. Cock your right wrist over so your front paddle blade is going have a slight climbing angle as it sweeps away from the front of the kayak on the surface of the water.
SWEEP Keep your head near the surface as it leads the sweep of your body and paddle around away from the side of the kayak. Keep your left elbow close to your body so your right paddle blade stays close to the surface of the water. If you lift your left arm you will make the right paddle dive and lose the benefit of the sweep. Your snap begins at the same time as your sweep.
SNAP and FINISH The hip snap is begun as you begin the sweep and continues until the roll is completed. You will be leaning slightly backward at the end of the roll with your head leaning toward your right shoulder.
RECOVERY Here you are using the paddle to brace yourself while you straighten up your back and get ready to paddle on downstream. To begin paddling you draw your paddle out of the water across your kayak until you are centred again.

 

The Brace Roll
Back to top | Sweep Roll

SETUP This diagram shows the setup position for a right hand brace roll. Do a situp to your left side (working those abs again..) and push your hands up out of the water, keeping your forearms against the side of your kayak. Cock your right wrist over so your front paddle blade is going have a slight climbing angle as it sweeps away from the front of the kayak above the surface of the water. Keep the entire paddle out of the water by keeping a tight tummy crunch position.
SWEEP Keep your head near the surface as it leads the sweep of your body and paddle around away from the side of the kayak. Your left arm goes up and over the hull of the kayak. Keep your right paddle blade out of the water until it is perpendicular to the centre of the kayak.
SNAP The hip snap is done as soon as you finish the sweep with your paddle. During your sweep your body is tightened up like a big spring, and the snap is the release of that spring tension. The snap is so powerful that you will place very little pressure downward on the paddle. Remember to keep your head down until it is lifted out by your body following the kayak's rotation.
RECOVERY This is simply a continuation of the hip snap. You will not be leaning back, but just leaning to the side. Your paddle will support you as you centre your head and shoulders over the kayak.

Once you have mastered this on the right side, learn to do it on the other side. Keep practicing it every time you go paddling until it becomes a natural instinct when you get tipped over. With a consistent and reliable roll you will be able to confidently take to the surf in a kayak