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Forward finishing roll practice

I put together a brief video this evening on forward finishing rolls to help show the motion the roller's body goes through during the many different Greenland style forward finishing rolls. With practice, you can teach yourself to relax. Only by relaxing will you be...

Techno rolling

I got a little carried away this morning, too much coffee, some loud thumbing bass playing in my headphones, and this video was the result. Keep on rolling.

A working weekend

Saturday morning started early. I woke up at 4am and my mind refused to let more sleep be an option. So I pulled out my laptop and set to work adding Spanish translations to the 25 Rolling with Sticks rolls to this website. If you go to a roll, try the Standard...

The Spanish are coming

Some large portion of the world speaks and reads the English language, a larger number speak Spanish (even larger populations speak Hindi and Mandarin). Earlier this year I was approached by Iván Lamas to help translate Rolling with Sticks into his native Spanish...

Masik designs for modern kayaks

When learning to roll one quickly discovers how critical it is to be able to move the kayak with your legs, thighs and hips. A solid connection between the kayak and your body greatly facilitates learning to move the kayak. Few of us are lucky enough to have kayaks...

Prior Lake Paddling

My wife and I live at the top of a hill over looking Prior Lake. We usually paddle at Spring Lake where we have a cabin. The last few weeks of Summer this year have been unusually warm. The warm weather has caused the water quality at Spring Lake to deteriorate. I...

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Qajaq Rolls is dedicated to passing on the traditional art of Greenland kayaking. Greenland kayak rolling can be a relaxing, yoga-like exercise. Rolling is also a tremendously valuable self-rescue technique, and should be the go-to recovery for any serious kayaker. Greenland kayak rolls are steeped in the history of the Inuit people, whose very survival depended upon their ability to roll up and recover while hunting. But Greenland kayaking encompasses much more than just rolling, qajaq building, paddle carving, throwing the harpoon and rope gymnastics are just some of the many skills that make up this ancient subsistence culture. If you are interested in learning more about all aspects of Greenland kayaking consider supporting Qajaq USA and Qaannat Katuffiat:

Qajaq USA is a nonprofit membership organization that is officially recognized by Qaannat Kattuffiat (The Greenland Kayaking Association). Qajaq USA is committed to supporting Qaannat Kattuffiat and their efforts to preserve, study and promote the traditions and techniques of Greenland kayaking while seeking to further the appreciation and development of Greenland-style kayaking in the United States.
Please consider joining Qajaq USA and supporting the organizations efforts.

If you are looking to prepare yourself your equipment and then learn your first roll please follow this link to a series of articles put together to help people get started: Getting your first roll. Nothing beats in person training, especially one-on-one training. If you are looking for mentoring check out the Qajaq USA Events where you can become immersed in the culture of traditional paddling.

Free Guidebook and DVD

Rolling with Sticks® started as a project to document the progress I was making as I learned the different Greenland style kayak rolls. This work evolved into the water proof guidebook and DVD. The project has paid for the costs of production so I decided to make them freely available for download in English, español – Spanish and 中文 – Chinese. Please download and share them with your paddling friends, and help to promote the art of Greenland rolling.