If you think rolling is the straightforward act of righting a capsized kayak using only a paddle, think again. Learning to roll tests a paddler’s proprioception and is a tangible connection to a millennia-old culture and craft. Yet rolls aren’t just for kayaks. From bowling and bikes to cinnamon buns and sushi, there are countless ways to roll.
9 things you didn’t know about rolling
The Greenlandic National Championship is a celebration of traditional kayak (qajaq) culture and skills, including 31 distinct Greenland rolls and related techniques.
Greenland rolling variations such as the storm roll, straight jacket roll and elbow roll were essential survival skills for paddlers hunting large mammals in dangerous, ice-cold sea conditions.
Rickrolling is a bait-and-switch internet meme involving Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The meme first appeared in 2007 and resurged in popularity in 2020, making it considerably longer lived than Astley’s music career.
Captured on rolls of 35mm nitrate film, The Wedding of Palo is a 1934 Danish docufiction set in Greenland. The film portrays the Inuit culture of the country, including harrowing rough water kayaking scenes, and was written by polar explorer and anthropologist Knud Rasmussen.
As early as the 17th century, military drummers used the measured cadence of a double stroke drum roll to set the pace for marching soldiers. The faster buzz roll creates a sense of tension and anticipation before a battle, circus act or bad joke.
Eye-rolling jokes are perfect for awkward silences or embarrassing your kids in public.
Q: What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A: A gummy bear.
A hand roll—assammik in Greenlandic—is a capsize recovery technique using only the paddler’s open hand. For an even greater challenge, try assak peqillugu—hand rolling with a clenched fist.
Originating in early 19th-century London, sausage rolls were British bakers’ answer to the city’s rapid industrialization. Hot, hearty and affordable, the pastry-wrapped wieners were a popular portable snack for factory and dock workers.
The phrase “this is how I roll” likely originated with rapper MC Hammer’s 1991 single, “This Is The Way We Roll”.
This article was published in Issue 75 of Paddling Magazine. A paddler demonstrates the traditional hunting technique called “rolling the kayak without submerging one’s cigarette.” Learn more at paddlingmag.com/0199. | Feature photo: Paul Villecourt
