Kayaking:Eskimo Rolls

Alyssa Van Patten

Initial/ Prep Phase

• Rotate hips to the left• Lean trunk forward and to

the left• Bring paddle to the left

side, parallel to the kayak• Right hand paddle is

parallel to the water, not perpendicular

• “Kiss the deck”= lean forward, head down

Sweep Phase• Back paddle close to the

boat• Sweep the front paddle

out, bending the elbow• Relax upper body• Snap left hip into ext• Keep head down• Timing of segments: hips

trunk shoulders head• Eyes on hands

Recovery Phase

• Trunk leaning backwards• Bring head up• Bring trunk forwards• Bring paddles back up to parallel• Balance self

Biomechanics

• Acrobatics– Rotating about an axis

through water• Balance– Getting the COM over

the BOS and keeping the kayak upright

Acrobatic

• Rotating about an axis– Create torque to force self off center and start

rotating– Small moment of inertia- get as close to kayak as

possible- less resistance to stopping– Pushing hips up (hip snap) and leaving behind the

upper body to counterbalance

Balance

• During hip snap– COM in the center of the boat near the hips– Hips snap up, COM will quickly get in line with BOS– If upper body goes first, COM is too low to bring

the kayak up• Recovery Phase– Bringing the paddle parallel to the water and the

trunk upright will stabilize and bring COM in the center of BOS

Other Factors

• Timing of Segments – Hip snap trunk upper body head

• Fear of being upside down• Vision

ObservationPrep Phase

Check Observations Comments

Rotate hips to the left

Lean trunk forward and left

Paddle to left side

Paddle parallel to kayak

Right hand paddle parallel to water

Head down

Tight tuck

ObservationSweep Phase

Check Observation Comments

Relaxed upper body

Trunk perpendicular to kayak

Quick left hip extension

Right paddle sweeps out

Left paddle stays in close

Trunk leans back

Timing of segments: hip snap trunk arms head

No use of upper body strength or paddle

ObservationCheck Observations Comments

Recovery Phase

Bring trunk up straight

Paddles in rowing position

Balanced on both sides

Overall

Smooth/fluid motion

Quick

Controlled

Observation• View from front and 45 degree angle• High-speed, water proof camera• Listen• Environmental factors– Weather– Water conditions– Type of kayak– Gear

Evaluation• First watch overall movement to make sure

they are getting up• Break it into the three parts• Would watch the sweep phase first to make

sure they got the hip snap above everything else

• Then watch the other phases

Implement Intervention

• #1 = get over fear of being upside down in water

• #2 = fix the biggest problem in their technique– Usually using upper body instead of hip snap

• #3 = Practice each phase separately– Getting into roll tuck position– Practicing hip snap and sweep– Moving hips back and forth in kayak for balance

(recovery phase)• #4 = Fix minor technical problems after that