Learn to roll your kayak with our video tutorials

Layback rollsForward finishing rolls

Latest Blog Posts

Further adventures in Greenland Kayak Rolling

Watching a video of a paddler practicing rolling in the clear waters off the Australia coast inspired me to try a few of the things he was doing.The first “new” trick I noticed was a forward finishing butter fly roll. Having now tried this myself I think it maybe the...

read more
Prize winning picture

Prize winning picture

This photograph taken by my wonderful wife of me paddling under the Split Rock Lighthouse has just been awarded third place in the Lake Superior Day photography competition. It should be being featured on the web site this weekend.

read more
Start with the story

Start with the story

Occasionally a pearl of wisdom is spoken and you happen to be there to hear it. Today I think I heard one. For the past 6 months I have been struggling for inspiration to complete the DVD project I started nearly two years ago. I have videoed the process of learning...

read more
New Foam Masik

New Foam Masik

After much input from the QajaqUSA.org forum I heavily modified my foam masik this weekend. I started by taking my existing masik and gluing a thin sheet of minicell foam on top protruding aft, this paralleled the deck and allowed me to later attach the “clip”. I used...

read more
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.