It’s a familiar pattern: paddler shares a rescue video on the internet. Others leap to the comment section to share their thoughts. Controversy ensues.
When Dimirtri Vandepoele posted a video of a rough water sea kayak rescue while paddling Pointe du Ra, an exposed headland in Brittany, he did so with the phrase “rescue training pays off”. Like many of Vandepoele’s North Sea Kayak videos, the rescue was shared as an educational moment. While playing in a tide rip together, Hugo Germonpre capsized and swam and Vandepoele went in for the rescue. Upon making contact with Germonpre, Vandepoele himself capsized as Germonpre tugged on Vandepoele’s decklines at the same time as a wave broke on the opposite side of the kayak.
Vandepoele quickly rolled and continued the rescue, retrieving Germonpre’s kayak while leaving Germonpre with a paddle in the air, then aided Germonpre in reentering the cockpit. From here, the pair continued paddling and playing in the tide race.
“You shouldn’t be out there without a bomb-proof roll”
Vandepoele’s video repeatedly incited a very specific comment: you shouldn’t be out there without a bomb-proof roll.
“Genuine question, what are you guys doing in this situation without a combat roll?” wrote a commenter on Instagram under the video.
Vandepoele replied, pointing out that a roll was seen in the video if you watch beyond the initial capsize, and that North Sea Kayak trains more often on self rescues. “We have seen people with a combat roll bailing out, and not knowing what to do next,” wrote Vandepoele.
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“Have you guys considered learning how to roll?” wrote another commenter.
In Vandepoele’s reply, in addition to pointing out that there is in fact a roll in the video, he explained that he believes there’s no such thing as a “bomb-proof” roll.
“There comes a moment, where you are injured, or when the situation is dire and you have to bail out,” wrote Vandepoele. “I have seen paddler[s] with a ‘bomb-proof roll’ bail out and not be able to perform a rescue. That is why we find self-rescue more important than rolling.”
Meanwhile, Gulf Kayak Academy wrote ”train in the conditions that you are likely to face trouble in,” agreeing with Vandepoele that rescue practice beyond rolling is key.
Does a bomb-proof roll exist?
Germonpre isn’t the only experienced paddler to take a highly publicized swim recently. Even world-renowned kayaker Dane Jackson had his first swim in over five years on the Misstassinni in early Summer 2025, a swim that led to a torn MCL, calf muscle, and impact fractures on his Femur + Tibia.
In his YouTube video, Jackson took care to acknowledge the incident as a wet exit and swim.
“I wrecked my knee as I got ripped out of the boat. Well, I swam,” Jackson corrected.”And then as I swam I got ripped out of the boat.”
Later in the video, Jackson went on to drink a “bootie beer” through a slipper and laugh about the swim with his friends.
Paddling accidents and rescue shaming
Ultimately, rescue videos like Vandepoele’s can be a learning tool. Videos and case studies can allow us to learn more about the sport even when not on the water, but often these case studies are met with judgement.
As former editor of Adventure Kayak Magazine Tim Schuff writes:
“The paddling community judges accidents harshly. We are so determined to figure it out and ascribe a cause to the incident we often rush to conclusions before all the facts are available and blame the victims in the process. Instead, we ought to humbly reflect on what lessons the incident can teach us and give thanks for surviving our own near misses.”
Feature Image: Dimitri Vandepoele, North Sea Kayak | YouTube
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Lo único que veo es dos tipos que en ningún momento pierden la calma y que saben lo que hacen.
Es evidente que no es la primera vez que se ven en una de esas.
I agree with Julián–these 2 paddlers handled the rough water recoveries very well, and the management of the separated paddler/kayak in rough water was textbook–quick, efficient. No roll, however reliable, is 100% “bombproof” in rough, dynamic conditions, and having the other tools in the toolbox ready to go is essential.
Like Dimitri, I paddle with people who practice self- and assisted rescues regularly and sometimes have to do them for real. And I also have no problem posting videos showing my own mistakes and/or swims or, always with permission, those of others. If something can be learned, that is. But that is usually the case. And like Dimitri, I have received disrespectful, condescending and ignorant comments, among the majority of positive, knowledgeable and encouraging ones we usually get.
There is no such thing as a bomb-proof roll. If you don’t swim now and then, you are not trying hard enough! My pool roll is >99% reliable. My combat roll only about 80 – 90%. That is better than most of my paddle companions. But it does mean I swim on roughly every tenth paddle. Not a big thing! The rescue is just for real then, rather than for practice.
I have long objected to the term “bomb-proof” roll, and I frequently get a lot of nasty pushback when I do so. I think the objections largely come from people who haven’t thought much about the issue. All the experts I know are in agreement that “eventually we all swim”. At some point, in other words, the roll fails. If you’re a superb paddler and athlete like Dane Jackson, that very rarely happens. If you’re a lesser mortal, it can happen at any time for a wide variety of reasons. If you believe your roll is “bomber”, why bother to learn, let alone practice, solo or assisted rescues.
In my experience, nothing will get your ass handed to you faster in the great outdoors than complacency and a cocky attitude. On the other hand, humility in the face of pitting your skill against Mother Nature dramatically improves your chance of avoiding trouble and improving survival potential.