The Kayak Roll

Rating:
Summary: Amazing teaching guide
Review: I bought this DVD after struggling to learn the roll, and finally learned it on the second pool session after watching it. Before watching the video, I was taught to first learn to bring myself up after a near-capsize using a sweeping brace, which I learned, but then I failed to apply that to the mechanics of the roll when upside-down under water, where all your instincts are the reverse of the correct motions.

This video teaches some exercises to progressively work your way to a full capsize -- first without the paddle and just using your knees. Then the instructor holds you by your lifejacket, with your face just above water, to teach you the sweeping motion of the paddle and the corresponding knee motion.

The video has very good production values, including animation and underwater camera angles. The last half of the video also contains diagnostics for common mistakes, and teaches you how to instruct others on doing the roll.

It was mostly filmed in a slow-moving river with whitewater kayaks, but also shows some sea-kayak-specific scenes, and the whole video applies to either form of kayaking. It even has some pretty amazing footage of kayakers riding some pretty serious ocean surf.

Rating:
Summary: It works
Review: I spent MONTHS trying to learn the C-to-C roll, including classes, books and pool practice sessions. At best my roll was 50/50. I got this video, which teaches the sweep roll as opposed to the C-to-C roll, and after really studying it (i.e., watching attentively at least 5 times, all the way through), I was able to successfully do a sweep roll on only my second attempt, and it's only been getting better since then. This video is a good explanation of a good technique for rolling the kayak.

Rating:
Summary: Great for intro and forming good habits
Review: This is the video to get if you are unsure of your roll. It provides slow motions that take you through every aspects of the sweep and C-to-C roll.

Even if you have a roll, this video can help you remove those bad habits that make a roll seemed strained.