SWIMMING POOL KAYAK ROLL CLASSES
Kayak Rolling Classes: Introduction to Execution
2 Evening Sessions–
$100
CALL 843-225-7969 TO REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT CLASS:
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., TUESDAY & THURSDAY – check schedule for our next
class
Rolling and learning to roll is different for each and every
paddler. An effective roll can be a fun (and potentially
life-saving) skill to learn and practice! Kayak Roll Classe
with Sea Kayak Carolina's crackerjack instructional team
meets regularly at St. Andrews Family Fitness Center
indoor pool in West Ashley. Check our schedule for upcoming classes.
This is a two part class: First night Tuesday,
from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 pm. Second night Thursday, from 6:30
p.m. - 8:30 pm. Kayaks, skirts, paddles and gear provided.
›› check out Joe's
cool video about learning to roll in the pool!
›› jump to our Rolling FAQ
›› check out some Rolling Videos
We’ll coach you each step of the way: From
learning to put on your kayak skirt, through what may be
your first "wet exit," to the bow rescue and an effective
hip-snap, all the way to the set-up, sweep and your first
roll. Our small classes with multiple instructors ensure
that you'll receive the level of instruction you need to
progress toward having a comfortable, dependable roll!
Personal Roll Coaching Available: Whatever your
background – Greenland or Euro paddle, new or experienced -
you may be looking for the coaching that only our
experienced instructors can provide. Call to
schedule: 843-225-7969
Sea Kayak Rolling Classes in Charleston
You can begin to understand rolling by watching
some of the many, many rolling videos posted online — but
nothing beats an in-boat, on-the-water experience with a
dedicated instructor. And that's what our small, in-pool
classes provide.
Above: a sampling of videos from Derrick Mayoleth's Kayak Quixotica website.
Below: From the 2011 New Years Day MeetUp paddle on the
Folly River, Don, Paul and Jeff practice their rolls in cool
weather and cold waters!
Rolling FAQ
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need to be an experienced kayaker to learn how to
roll?
— Nope! The progression of our roll class requires no
previous paddling experience.
Do I need to have lots of upper body strength to learn
to roll?
— Nope! In fact, students with lots of upper body strength
can be a challenge for instructors... these students tend to
try to "muscle it"... and it doesn't work that way. Big
strong guys -- say "I'm a ballerina!" in your highest
falsetto 1,000 times prior to coming to class!
Okay, I don't need strength, or experience. What do I
need?
— Flexibility helps! We'd rather you be attending yoga class
than bench-pressing. Flexibility of the mind helps as
well... don't be too goal oriented, just listen to the
instructors and progress one step at a time.
I don't like to be trapped in a long, skinny kayak,
upside down, underwater, learning a new skill! Can I learn
to roll?
— We approach our roll classes from your perspective. Most
people don't like to learn a new skill upside-down, stuck in
a long skinny kayak, with water rushing up their nose! We
start with getting you comfortable with the wet exit, and
work on some relaxation exercises before progressing. We
have found the key is getting students comfortable.
No, you don't understand. I completely freak out just
thinking about capsizing in a kayak, especially with a
skirt on! How can there be any possibility of me learning
to roll a kayak?
— Some folks are especially apprehensive. We have multiple
instructors in the pool, and we can often accommodate
especially apprehensive students one-on-one with especially
patient and understanding instructors. Please call the shop
if you still have concerns.
What to wear? What else to bring?
— A bathing suit.
— Some insulating layers. The pool is heated, but everyone
that tries to go the hour and 45 minutes in just a bathing
suit gets hypothermic such that they are uncomfortable and
unable to progress. Neoprene shorts and a neoprene top
(available at the shop for purchase) work great. A
lightweight surfers wetsuit or shorty wetsuit works well,
too.
— Water shoes / kayak shoes. (available for purchase at the
shop.)
— Noseplugs or a dive mask can be helpful. (Noseplugs are
available at the shop or for purchase at class.)
Can I bring my own kayak?
We normally equip folks with properly sized sea kayaks,
skirts and paddles. If you would like to bring your own
kayak, let us know when you register. If it is suitable for
learning to roll, by all means bring it. If it is not a
model of kayak that is easier to roll, we often have
students work in one of our kayaks the first night and part
of the second, and then transition the student into their
own boat sometime the second evening.
Please call or visit Sea Kayak Carolina if you have
any further questions about our roll class. You must call
the shop at 843-225-7969 to pre-register for roll class.
And
don't forget to check out Joe's cool video about
learning to roll in the pool with Sea Kayak Carolina!
Want to know more?
For more information on any of Sea
Kayak Carolina’s classes or
tours, contact us at 843-225-7969 or
.