Of all the things a paddler must know (other than your basic forward stroke…and how to watch out for boats…and how not to get hit by a killer whale), the roll is probably the most important. Of course, I’m talking more about river kayaking than touring, although knowing how to roll a touring kayak can certainly come in handy. The roll is a rough move. I learned how to do the Eskimo roll in a pool in college, and then took to the nearby rivers and improved my technique. Though I do have to say I soon immigrated away from river kayaking and into touring and never really had a good, solid roll.
But if I were to get back into it, and if you’re interested in learning how to roll, or at least reading a site that provides some tips that you might employ when you next get into a boat, you should check out this very well-done HOW-TO and video on rolling. The article is written by Kent Ford, the creator of the infamous Kayak Roll video.