Kayakers: How do you do a 'hand roll' with a kayak?

Question

I can do an extended paddle Eskimo roll, but I see people do hand rolls so easily. I can't even come close. Do you need to be very flexible to do this? anyone know the trick??

Answer 1

The key is in a real quick "hipsnap" while leaning way over (in other words, your flexibility).  It's not in the strength, but the violence of your hipsnap (quickness).  Your torso needs to be fully extended (flexibility) from one side to the other.  In other words, in your "set up" you need to try to touch your ear to your waist (not literally, just try to bend as much as possible) and then you snap your hips to the other side and try to touch your ear to your oposite hip.  A good drill to learn the hip snap is to lean over and put your hands and head on the edge of a swimming pool, and practice flexing (snapping) your hips from left to right ( from one side to the other).  It's all in the hips, and it's not a natural body movement, so you have to practice it.  Hipsnap, hipsnap hipsnap.  It's all in the hipsnap.