New Back Deck Roll Lessons | LIVE in the OWW Library

You asked for “Back Deck Roll” lessons and we listened. We are exited to share that we have added a series of new lessons to our "Rolling Course" that break this fast and technical roll down into simple, manageable steps. Whether you've never tried a back deck roll before or you're looking to make yours more reliable, these lessons will guide you through the process from start to finish.

What is a Back Deck Roll?

A back deck roll is exactly what it sounds like – instead of setting up towards the front of the kayak like you would for a standard screw roll, you start from the back of the boat.

This makes it a really useful roll when you've capsized, and your body has already been pushed towards the stern. Rather than having to move back into a traditional setup position, you can often roll up much more quickly from where you already are.

Why Learn It?

The biggest advantage of a back deck roll is speed.

On moving water, things can happen quickly. If you capsize while peeling out of an eddy or catching an edge, you don't always have time to move into the perfect position before rolling.

A back deck roll lets you get back upright quickly and carry on paddling, which can be especially useful if you're heading towards rocks, walls or other river features.

It's not about replacing your standard roll; it's about having another option when the river puts you in a different position.

Learning Step by Step

Like the rest of our rolling course, we've broken the skill down into easy stages.

The new lessons include:

• An overview of how the back deck roll works.
• Body position and technique before introducing the paddle.
• How to practise safely with a partner.
• Using another kayak to help learn the movement.
• Learning the Reverse Screw Roll as a stepping stone.
• Building up to the full Back Deck Roll.
• Taking the skill onto moving water.

By learning each part separately, the whole movement becomes much easier to understand.

The Reverse Screw Roll

Before moving on to the full back deck roll, we spend time looking at the “Reverse Screw Roll”.

This is a great skill to learn in its own right, but it's also the perfect stepping stone to the back deck roll because much of the movement is the same.

Once you've learnt the reverse screw, you'll already have most of the skills needed for the final roll.

Clearing Up Some Myths

The back deck roll has a reputation for being risky, but much of that stems from a misunderstanding of how it works.

One common myth is that your head is more exposed to rocks. In reality, your head is often much closer to the surface than people expect, and your paddle, arms and shoulders naturally offer some protection.

Another concern is shoulder injuries. Like any kayaking skill, poor technique can put stress on your shoulders. Throughout these lessons, we focus on keeping your elbows in a strong, safe position and using body rotation rather than reaching with your arms.

Good technique is the key to keeping the movement both efficient and safe.

Another Useful Tool in Your Rolling Toolkit

We don't see the back deck roll as a replacement for a standard screw roll. Instead, it's another useful skill to have when the situation calls for it.

The more rolling options you have, the better prepared you'll be when things don't go exactly to plan.

Whether you're learning your first advanced roll or adding another skill to your toolkit, these new lessons will help you build the movement in a clear, progressive way, giving you the confidence to use it when it really matters.

We're really pleased to be able to add these lessons to the course, and we hope they help even more paddlers become confident, reliable rollers.

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