I need a teacher or a class to help me learn how to roll a kayak. I have tried to teach myself by watching videos, but I guess I am missing something. I have kayaked repeatedly in class 3-4 rapids and I just try not to fall over. When I fall, it's body surf the rapids. I'm getting tired of bailing out. Is there someone out there who has taught a number of others who can teach me? I live in Macon, GA, but I will travel to learn how. HELP, Please.

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The best I can do for you is to pass on some tips that were passed on to me. I will do my best to convey them in writing.

One of the biggest things you need to do is to get your hip snap down pat. As your head breaks the surface of the water you should try to pull the boat under you with your hips while still powering through your stroke.


Instead of trying to get you paddle perpendicular to the boat before making your stroke, just make a strong stroke going from the front corner of the boat to the opposite rear corner while leaning back over the back of the boat. By using your back in the stroke it makes it very powerfull and when you get leaned back over the back of the boat it lowers the center of gravity there for making it easyer to get up right.

It is hard to put it into written words so I did a short video to show you what I am talking about. My 8 year old shot this with my phone so it is a little shaky and the sound is very low but maybe you can get the point that I am trying to convey to you