The Western Seaboard
Kayak Rolling
Rolling sea kayaks on the shores of Alameda.
Story/Photos/Videos by Marc Owerfeldt

When Mike says let's roll then usually there's a bit more to it than just getting off the couch and driving to the nearest burger factory.

Posted on May 27, 2019

I met Mike at the Tomales Downwinder and we'd become rolling partners. Here's Mike in his self-built wooden kayak performing a weak-side roll:

Mike's layback roll, weak-side.

Mike and I began working on a Reverse Sweep Roll in May. Humble beginnings. At the time both of us were challenged to roll up from a face-down position with the help of paddle floats.

August update: Out of the blue Mike sent me this video (see below). Wow! What a difference! Mike must have practiced quite a bit over the summer (while I was out chasing salmon on the Mendocino coast). He now executes Reverse Sweeps flawlessly as the slow motion video show. This is some of the greatest inspiration I received all year. Mike is a talented guy but now I want to follow suit.

Mike nailing a reverse sweep roll.