Rolling Clinic - Summer
New to rolling, or looking for more advanced help? This is where to start. A 90-minute rolling clinic with hands-on coaching in calm, sheltered water. Whether you're working on your first roll, building consistency with the one you have, or adding Greenland-style skills by request, this clinic is tailored to your level — we'll find the technique that suits your body, flexibility, and goals. No experience required.
Rolling is one of the most practical safety skills in sea kayaking. It's also one of the most satisfying things you'll ever learn to do in a boat. This clinic gives you focused time, warm-up progressions, and hands-on coaching to make it happen.
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Roll?
Everyone's different, and rolling is a skill that rewards patience over force. You can realistically work on rolling for about 45–90 minutes before fatigue takes over and you're just slugging through it — which is why our sessions are built the way they are.
Most people need somewhere between one and six sessions. That range comes from experience coaching, not from a study. Where you land depends mostly on:
- Flexibility — the more rotation you have through your hips and torso, the more rolls are open to you. If you're stiffer, we choose a roll that asks for less.
- Comfort upside down — the more relaxed you are underwater, the faster the timing comes.
- Technique over force — patience and timing beat athleticism.
- Practice between sessions — what you do between sessions matters as much as the sessions themselves.
Some people are faster, some slower, and one of our own coaches was slower. The point is: almost everyone can learn to roll. It's a question of when, not if. For more on this, check out But Can You Roll?
What You'll Work On
Sessions are coached to your starting point. We'll assess your comfort and flexibility, then build from there.
- Foot peg, back-band, and thigh brace adjustment
- Paddle length sizing for rolling
- Wet exit confidence and warm-up drills
- Hip snap isolation and timing
- Setup position and blade orientation
- Guided progression from assisted to solo
- Video Analysis
- Rolling from different capsize positions
- Combining roll with brace recovery
- Building consistency under mild fatigue
Session Times
Three sessions run each clinic day. Book whichever slot fits your schedule — same content, same coaching.
- AM — 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Lunch — 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- PM — 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
You're welcome to stay on the water all day after your session to practise on your own. Coaching help is available between sessions on a best-effort basis, with priority given to students in scheduled slots.
Locations
- Guelph — calm, sheltered water ideal for focused rolling practice
- Lion's Head — on the Bruce Peninsula, rolling in a stunning Georgian Bay setting
What's Included
- 90-minute coached rolling session at 3:1
- Valley or Rockpool sea kayak, paddle, and safety gear
- Personalized technique selection based on your body and goals
- All-day water access to keep practising after your session
Good to Know
- You will spend a lot of time upside down — bring nose and earplugs
- Wear quick-drying clothing. Bring sunscreen, lunch, and water.
- Clinics run rain or shine, though we reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms
What to Bring
Kayak, paddle, and safety gear are provided. Just bring yourself and the basics.
- PFD — mandatory, bring your own
- Nose and earplugs — strongly recommended
- Quick-drying clothing — you will get wet
- Sunscreen, water, and lunch — especially if you're staying all day
Paddle Canada Rolling Skills Clinic — This is a Paddle Canada sanctioned clinic, taught by certified Rolling Instructors. Successful participants can receive the Paddle Canada Rolling Skills certification. Basic Kayak Skills certification or equivalent is recommended but not required.
Pre-course theory: Before your on-water session, you'll complete a short online theory module covering rolling mechanics, body positioning, and safety. This means your full 90 minutes on the water is spent coaching — not in a classroom.
Keep building → A reliable roll is a major asset heading into Level 3. Pair this clinic with our winter pool sessions to keep practising throughout the year.
Greenland-Style Rolling
Looking for more advanced help? Kayak Ontario has added a Greenland-style rolling mentor to its coaching team, and Greenland-style skills are available by request on select dates.
We teach recreational rolling and we are not Inuit, but we get asked for Greenland-style rolling a lot, so we help where we can. Our coaching is limited to rolls from the competition list of the Greenland National Kayaking Championship, run by Qaannat Kattuffiat, the Greenland Kayaking Association, and we teach them as recreational paddling technique. We do not teach or speak for Inuit culture. Kayak Ontario is not affiliated with or endorsed by Qaannat Kattuffiat.
Greenland-style rolling originates with Inuit. Kayak Ontario donates 100% of the revenue collected from participants who request Greenland-style skills, and a portion of revenue from all rolling classes, to the Inuit Nunaat Fund, an Inuit-led fund supporting Inuit communities in Canada, Greenland and Alaska.
Questions
What if I can't roll by the end?
Can I stay and practise after my session?
What boats will I be paddling?
Which roll will I learn?
I already have a roll. Is this still useful?
Can I book more than one session in a day?
Is this a Greenland rolling clinic?
Kayak rolling was developed by Arctic kayak hunters, and the best-documented rolling tradition is that of Greenland Inuit. Many of the rolls taught today, including the ones in this clinic, descend from those techniques. Because these are the traditions of a living culture, we believe we need to be thoughtful about how we practise and discuss them. You can read more about our views on the origins of British sea kayaking in our blog piece, Qajaq: A Journey Through History, Ethics, and the Debt of a Sport.