Learn to roll your kayak with our video tutorials

Latest Blog Posts

$2 paddle rack

Today I saw a lovely picture of a Japanese craftman's stand that he was using to display his Greenland paddles for sale. This inspired me to turn a couple of off cuts of quarter inch plywood into a similar rack to bring order to the chaos of my kayak shed.The six...

Roll of the day – The Standard Greenland Roll

The Standard Greenland Roll is the quintessential classic Greenland roll (technically a high brace roll) it teaches us the essence of all layback rolls.I have updated my tutorial with new images and text plus a link to the video tutorial.

Kayak Rolling Stretching

Layback rolls require considerable lower back flexibility, most of us sit hunched up at desks for ours on end or slouched on a couch and as we age we generally loose flexibility in our spine. Gently stretching backwards over a bosu ball can greatly help...

Sequence for learning the Standard Greenland Roll

I am working on the sequence of steps to create a comprehensive learning plan to allow people to learn the Standard Greenland Roll-Overcoming fear-What to wear-Where to learn-Stretching-Basic kayak fitting-Sculling sitting up-Sculling lying back-Sculling with a...

Roll of the day – The Chest Scull

I have added diagrams and commentary to the chest scull tutorial.Next will be the Standard Greenland Roll - it doesn’t get more important than that one!The chest scull can be a great starting maneuver for people who dont have a lot of flexibility, and/or have a kayak...

Updated a couple of rolls

Using the new format of Stick figure diagram, breaking the roll down with a description of each phase, and then including a video I have updated two of the rolling tutorials:Side ScullingThrowing stick, sweep from stern to bow, finish tucked forwardFeedback would be...

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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.