Learn how to roll a kayak with our free PDF guide and videos

Learn the kayak roll

A party trick as well as a safety procedure – not a bad combo, right? Just how simple is an kayak roll, you ask? Some are able to roll after one lesson but most people need more practice in the kayak before they can master it. Either way, once you learn the kayak roll, you will be hooked and won’t look back!

If you are keen to become a safer and more skilled paddler then mastering how to do a kayak roll (also known as an kajakkrull) should be on your bucket list, especially for those wanting to progress their river kayaking. We believe at Mad Goats that rolling an kayak is huge part of kayaking whether you are paddling waterfalls, sea kayaking or just kayaking on a gentle lake. No only is it an incredibly fun and rewarding challenge, it is also active meditation. Learn the kayak roll and you can finally say you are a kayaker, and a safe and responsible one at that. Plus, once you learn the kayak roll you can teach others and spread the joy – that is goat life!

What courses do we teach the kayak roll on?

You will have the opportunity to learn the kayak roll on our 2-day sea kayaking course in Oslo. This is a beginner våttkort course that requires no previous kayak experience to join – find out more here

We also teach the kayak roll on our 2-day whitewater kayaking course up in Sjoa. Learning to roll is must for all kayakers but especially so for river kayakers. It gets pretty exhausting swimming down all the rapids. This is all a beginner våttkort course and requires no prior kayak experience to join – find out more here

Fun fact: you can go straight to our Grunnkurs Elv or Grunnkurs Hav våttkort course and skip the 3hr Introkurs if you want. You do not need to do the Introkurs first. However, the Introkurs våttkort course is enough to be able to rent a kayak from us – find out more here about kayak rental 

Playlist of our rolling video tutorials

Learn to Kayak Roll PDF Guide

Download our  free comprehensive guide to learning the kayak roll (5MB, pdf)

We hope you find these resources helpful in mastering the techniques of kayak rolling and they help to keep you safe on the water!

Kayak courses in Norway

Our instructors specialise in teaching the kayak roll and ensure that you feel safe and secure. We think that learning to roll is helpful for anyone wanting to progress their kayaking so we include instruction and tips as part of our Foundation Courses. Sign up for one of our “grunnkurs” and learn how to kayak roll like a pro!

Book now Our most popular activities

Private Sauna Rental – Jeløy, Moss

Self-service floating sauna on the central Moss waterfront. Our sauna sessions are 2hrs during weekdays and 2.5hrs in the weekends. Hiring a floating sauna is an awesome activity for team building or any type of celebration, whether that is for teambuilding, an utdrikningslag or a birthday. There is nothing more thrilling and refreshing that jumping into the fjord, followed by warming up after in a beautiful nordic sauna!

5hr Whitewater Kayaking or Packrafting Våttkort Introduction Course (introkurs) – Sjoa, Norway

This is where your whitewater adventure begins! Try our 5hr whitewater kayaking or packrafting beginner våttkort course in Sjoa, Heidal - one of the worlds most famous whitewater rafting and kayaking destinations! On this våttkort course (våttkortkurs) you can choose to be in a kayak or a packraft. Packrafts are more stable and lighter to carry, making them the ultimate adventure watercraft, whereas kayaks are more agile on the river, making them better for playing on waves and for paddling harder whitewater. However, the techniques used to paddle both are very similar, which is why we can combine the two courses! - “catch you on the water!”

Self-service Kayak Rental – Tjuvholmen, Oslo

Self-service kayak rental (kajakk utleie) in Tjuvholmen. Book online, get a code and pick up a kayak and all equipment - it is that easy! Remember that at least one person in the group needs their våttkort. You can get your våttkort with us on our 3hr introduction to kayaking course held in central Oslo.

Public Sauna Session – Jeløy, Moss

Self-service floating sauna on the central Moss waterfront. Our sauna sessions are 2hrs during weekdays and 2.5hrs in the weekends. Public sauna sessions are great places to relax, hang with friends or meet new ones. Regular sauna use and ice bathing has been scientifically proven to be very good for your health, increase your energy levels and improve your sense of wellbeing. We hope to see you in the sauna soon!

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