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As the kayak pool session has progressed with the students, each of them has become curious about an eskimo roll. We had one dedicated rolling lesson last saturday with 10 students. A few came close to rolling, some were closer than others to getting the concepts.

Rolling, in my opinion is a basic or a gateway skill that allows you to progress on to other skills. Knowing how to right your kayak without fear is a big confidence builder and can really increase your ability to edge, lean and try different strokes.

So here’s the question for instructors: What works for you?

Share it here in the comments, whether it’s traditional style paddle, pawlata style roll, paddle-float training wheels approach or some sort of voodoo doll. I’d love to hear what the approach is for coaches to teaching a really important, but albeit tricky skill.

Students can be afraid of the water, entrapment, or just have general anxiety about working with a coach. How do you work on overcoming these issues with the student?

If you have videos, or photos send them along and I’ll add them.

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Alec Bloyd-Peshkin and I shot several rescues in the marina on Lake Michigan this weekend. This is the first of these self rescue techniques.

The re-enter and roll is probably the best self-rescue technique after a roll has failed. It is simple and relies on no special equipment. The paddler simply re-enters the cockpit and then rolls the kayak up full of water.

Sea Kayak Re-Enter and Roll Rescue-Gokayaknow.com from Keith Wikle on Vimeo.

Note the time signature on the video from the moment the paddler is out of the kayak until the kayak is upright. 15 seconds.

There are some slight drawbacks. Once you are up, you have a kayak full of water. You must get the skirt back on. But both of these seem minor to being back upright in the kayak.

This video may seem elementary to some. And perhaps advanced to those without a roll. It is actually a very basic rescue. There are fewer things to remember than with a paddle float re-entry. You spend less time in the water fidgeting about with gear and more time getting back underway. I actually think this method is better for rough water than a cowboy scramble. With a re-enter and roll the paddler is already back in the boat, no precarious balancing act, and then wiggling back in. The paddle is already in your hand and you are ready to brace if need be. Note the supporting sculling strokes for balance after the roll to ensure the paddler stays upright.

This was a great day with bright sunshine. The water was only in the 40s and the air in the 50s. Good fun. See any major Chicago landmark in the background of the video?

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This is a great example of why we learn to eskimo roll. It takes about 2 seconds to complete the roll, then you are back up and on your way. This guy unwittingly also makes the case against the paddle float rescue. Even with proper training it can be challenging in textured conditions, if not downright impossible.

This guy is having difficulty with more htan a few details on the rescue.

• First the paddle does not go ahead of the cockpit it goes behind.
• He also can’t seem to get the paddle float attached properly.
• He seems to get up and out of the water no problem. But he also manages to overbalance everytime by not keeping his body low or his weight on the paddle as he corkscrews.

Also note that this guy is in Alaska where I am sure the water is not warm. How quickly did he run out of strength to try? Check the time signature on the video, and you will see that he doesn’t last too long. Still think a paddle float rescue is a reliable rough water rescue skill?…

Frankly I would like to encourage every symposium to collectively agree to not to teach this skill unless they preface it with, This will only work on flat water close to shore.