Doing the The Eskimo Roll or “Esquimautage”

One of the most spectacular features of white-water boating is an Eskimo roll or esquimautage the French term for the maneuver. With a narrow kayak, properly “skirted” to keep water out, the roll-over can be performed in water over 3 feet deep with comparative safety.

Experts in the field say that preliminary practice in a pool, wearing a face mask, is helpful in enabling the novice to conquer the natural fear of being under water and in observing the position of the paddle relative to the boat while under water.

An important part of this maneuver is preparing for the underwater roll by taking a fast, deep breath. Many white-water boaters make a practice of taking a deep breath whenever leaning over in the boat, trying a new stroke, or going through waves. After some skill is acquired, the mask and noseclips are discarded, so that when an unexpected roll is encountered, the water hitting the boatman’s face will not temporarily stun him.

The Forward Brace

The paddle stroke used in the roll is called the “forward brace.” This is very much like a forward stroke, except that the boat is leaned, so the paddler’s efforts go to raise the boat rather than propel it.

The paddle is inserted near the bow and swept out wide to about 90 degrees from the seat. The arms are kept high, the paddle is extended, and the paddler leans into the brace.

As the kayak rolls over, the paddle should be gripped very firmly, as it will be entirely under water and the force of the water may be strong enough to tear it away. The ‘”screw” roll is increased in effectiveness if one hand is slid along the shaft of the paddle to the neck where the blade starts. It is important to know the exact angle of the blades. If the paddler is overturned in a far-out position, it may be necessary to pull the paddle forcefully alongside his boat.

Once the paddles are alongside the boat and the blades are at the correct angle, the roll-over can be completed. The more experienced boatmen use the force of the river current to aid in the execution of the roll. It is easy to roll up in a fast river when going downstream. As the body hits the water, it creates resistance, thereby slowing down the boat’s speed. Since the water is now going faster than the boat, the force of the onrushing water on the blade-which is set at a climbing angle-tends to provide additional lift.

When facing upstream, for instance when crossing a current, the easier roll would be down on the upstream side of the boat; roll up on the downstream side. Again, the faster moving water will tend to lift up the boat.

In the average roll the boatman’s face is under water for less than two seconds; so that even on a short breath it is possible to try at least two rolls. The important factors in kayak rolling appear to be knowledge of handling the blade, proper breathing, and avoiding panic when rolling over or under water.

Tags: water sports

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