Why roll? That’s a question I’m asked fairly often. 

Some people say it’s a necessary skill for any kayaker; others say you don’t need to know it. And still others view it as an art form. Me, I see it as a challenge of skill that has many benefits beyond recovering from a capsize, and also as an art form to a lesser extent. 

Dismissing any rescue technique out of hand is foolish. You should have as many in your arsenal as you can master. We’re talking about your life, or someone else’s here. You’re not losing anything by learning them, and you may even enjoy it. The inuit have been using kayaks since europeans were living in caves, and probably rolling them about as long. It’s a proven technique that was developed in response to the reality that swimming meant certain death in the arctic, even if you were somehow able to get back in the boat (They didn’t have Gore-Tex back then). 

Is learning to roll easy? Not always. The physical part is easy --- it’s the mental part that holds people back most times. We’re not genetically programmed to deliberately trap ourselves in a boat, capsize it, and remain calm. That’s a learned behavior. The less of a hangup you have about inverting yourself underwater while skirted into a kayak, the easier it will be for you to learn to roll. 

Does a roll work in all situations? Of course not. There is no one “universal” rescue technique that works all the time. That’s why there are so many of them. If you hear someone talking about their “Bombproof” roll, expect to see them swim sometime. But, rolling is the most versatile of them all, and can be done in most conditions that you’d be paddling in. 

Have I ever rolled in a “real” situation? YES!!!!!!!  Several times in my sea kayak, and lots of times paddling whitewater. It does work, and gets you back on your way faster than any other rescue technique. And in whitewater, it raises your odds of survival significantly, and also saves you from having to buy the first round of drinks at the end of the day for being a swimmer. 

What other benefits accrue from learning to roll? More confidence edging the boat, much better bracing skills, and enhanced boat control. And when you have proven your roll in a real capsize, more confidence overall. In rough water, rolling is the preferred recovery from a capsize, as self and assisted rescues become more difficult, and riskier to the rescuer as the seas get bigger. 

And what about the “Art” of rolling? It’s kind of like learning a martial art, flyfishing, or fencing. All were once necessary survival skills for the people that developed them, but now are done mostly for the sheer pleasure of it, and for the other benefits you get from learning a new skill. Greenland paddlers in particular view rolling as an art form, as the numerous Greenlandic rolls and tricks all are very graceful. And they all work. They originally were methods of surviving various common hunting accidents, and now pose a fun challenge to the recreational paddler that enhances concentration, body awareness, and boat and muscle control. 

So again, why roll? It works, it’s fun, and it builds skill and confidence. For me, any one of those is all the reason I need.