Sweep Roll

On this kayak sweep roll we are going to focus on maintaining a flat and neutral blade so that it moves cleanly through the water, while we do the sweep and knee lift.

kayak sweep roll

As you start this motion, minimize the force on the blade and bring the boat up with your hip snap. Pulling down on the paddle and lifting your head to breathe are the most common ailments of rolls and braces. You have to believe! If your head goes up for air, the boat stays upside down!

Finish your roll in a safe position! To avoid injury, keep the paddle shaft low and in front of your shoulders. Use smooth finesse rather than power.

kayak sweep roll

Using the paddle 

When you have mastered a smooth knee lift you‘re ready to get started with the paddle. It’s helpful to have a swim mask and nose plugs for this part of the learning process.

The set-up position

This is a protected forward tucked position, with the paddle held on the water along one side the boat. From the set-up, you’ll flip, and wait until your boat settles upside down. Many paddlers find that it is easier to learn this roll setting up on the right, with the left hand forward.

Hold the paddle delicately! If you hold it tight, this transfers stress into the rest of your body, and makes you more likely to “muscle” the roll. And muscling the roll is harder than using fluid technique!

Note: a few of these rolling images may take up to a minute to load, in order to bring you high quality instruction.

Upside down 

Once you are upside down, you move the working blade in an arc near the surface. Keep the blade near the surface by leaving the tuck position, and rolling your torso and working blade out to the side.

On this roll we are going to focus on maintaining a flat and neutral blade so that it moves cleanly through the water, while we do the sweep and knee lift.

Ideally, you have an instructor who can tap the boat when you are ready for the next step.

kayak sweep roll

As you start this motion, minimize the force on the blade and bring the boat up with your hip snap. Pulling down on the paddle and lifting your head to breathe are the most common ailments of rolls and braces. You have to believe! If your head goes up for air, the boat stays upside down!

The Finish Position 

Finish your roll in a safe position! To avoid injury, keep the paddle shaft low and in front of your shoulders. Use smooth finesse rather than power.

In Phil’s words from Kayaker’s Edge Video: 

I wait until my boat settles, with my forearms still on the edge of the boat. I push my hands into the air, getting my body closer to the surface. My back hand is at my side, by my hip. I initiate the movement by pushing the front hand away from the side of the boat, and begin to unwind my torso. I focus on my front blade traveling through the water, near the surface, as it sweeps in an arc away from the boat with little or no resistance. At the same time, using my knee I rotate the boat.

The paddle moves with my torso. I watch the blade. By rolling my right wrist back in one fluid motion, and bringing my hand to the shoulder, I minimize the pressure on the paddle.

I finish looking down my shaft at the blade. My torso is twisted slightly back.

Sweep Roll

  • Set up Position: Control hand back paddle slightly forward, blade flat on water. Forearms against side of boat. Wait for cool air on hands before starting.
  • Initiating motion of Sweep. Pushing the front shoulder out away from boat, no resistance on the blade. Back hand moves from set up to curled in by chin. By rolling wrist back bringing hand to the shoulder, you minimize the pressure on the paddle.
  • Remember, it is a body, knee and torso motion… not the blade. No climbing angle reduces resistance away from boat, starts the push-footpegs lean back thing.
  • Instructor holding body/head as much as possible. Traditional system of holding paddle has drawback that it encourages finding support from paddle blade.
  • Recovery: Safe finishing position 3rd-4th quadrant. Looking down shaft.