Alongside my inflatables, I've been learning to paddle a hardshell: first rolls in a pool, roll practice, a Jackson Hero, a near-flip, easy Santiam whitewater and rolling a Pyranha Ripper. Here's that whole stretch, video by video.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells SOTAR inflatable kayaks, and I earn money when you buy them here. SOTAR also sponsors me as an athlete.
Learning to Roll a Hardshell Kayak in a Pool (Successfully)
After two pool sessions and about four hours total, I rolled a hardshell kayak for the first time. This is that roll, about six minutes of pool time.
Video: learning to role a hardshell kayak in a pool! (successfully!) on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
A big thank you to Scott for teaching me. Having someone in the water next to you, catching your bow and telling you exactly what went wrong, makes all the difference.
Why learn in a pool
A pool takes away the current, the cold and the rocks, so all you're working on is the movement, with an instructor right next to you. (Inflatables are different, since you sit on top of the boat; see My Flips on the Upper Clackamas.)
If you want to learn
- Find an instructor or a club pool session. Don't try to teach yourself in moving water.
- Everyone learns at a different pace; it took me two sessions, and it can take others many more. A pool roll also isn't the same as a reliable roll on a river.
Watch the progression: hardshell kayaking roll practice, Jackson hero hardshell kayak roll, and years later, rolling an inflatable in The Rondel kayak chaos.
Hardshell Kayaking Roll Practice
Roll practice in a pool in a hardshell kayak, working on making the roll automatic.
Video: hardshell kayaking roll practice on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Landing your first roll is one thing. Having a roll you can count on in cold, moving water when you didn't expect to flip is something else, and this was me putting in the reps.
What the practice looks like
Lots of repetitions, rolling up from different setups, in a pool where it's safe to fail. The technique itself came from instruction, and that's where I'd send anyone learning.
Hardshell Kayak Roll in a Jackson Hero
A quick, 18-second roll in a Jackson Hero hardshell kayak.
Video: Jackson hero hardshell kayak roll on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Short and simple, but it's a milestone. Every roll that comes up clean builds the confidence you need to commit to harder moves, because you know a flip isn't automatically a swim.
Here's the progression so far: my first roll in a pool, roll practice, this clip, and later Hardshell kayaking fun with more rolling. Rolling an inflatable is its own skill, which you can see in The Rondel kayak chaos.
For how inflatables differ, read My Flips on the Upper Clackamas.
Hardshell Kayaking: A Near-Flip and a How-Not-To Lesson
This hardshell clip is a how-not-to lesson: I let go of my paddle with one hand, didn't brace, and nearly flipped.
Video: hardshell kayaking on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
What went wrong
When I let go with one hand, I lost my brace. When the boat tipped, I had no blade on the water and nothing to level the boat with. In a hardshell that's a fast trip upside down.
What I took from it
Bracing is a skill I learned properly from people who could coach me, and it's one to learn from an instructor, not an article. The mindset side is in My Flips on the Upper Clackamas.
Inflatables are a different story, since you sit on top of the boat instead of inside it. More in My Flips on the Upper Clackamas. For a slowed-down look at a real flip, watch Breakdown of my kayak flip on the Upper Clackamas.
Easy Whitewater on the Santiam in a Hardshell Kayak
Beginner-level hardshell kayaking on easy whitewater on the Santiam River, back when I was just getting comfortable in a hardshell.
Video: Easy whitewater on the Santiam River in a hard shell kayak, by Jacob linkhart on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Hardshells are a different animal from inflatables. They're faster to tip, edge-sensitive, and much more rewarding once it clicks. This was me getting comfortable on easy water.
Looking back, this video shows how I learned: strokes on easy water first, then the roll, then harder water. Watch hardshell kayaking for what happens when you forget to brace.
If you're thinking about getting into kayaking, read Picking Your Boat first. Try boats before you buy one.
Hardshell Kayaking Fun: Rolling in a Pyranha Ripper
Fun hardshell kayaking in a Pyranha Ripper, with plenty of rolling.
Video: Hardshell kayaking fun on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
The Ripper is a playful, fast river-running kayak, and it's a fun boat to throw around. By this point rolling felt a lot more natural than it did in my first pool session, and that changes how you paddle. When you trust your roll, you commit to lines and play spots you'd otherwise skip.
The progression: first roll, roll practice, Jackson Hero roll, and this. Then it carried over to inflatables in The Rondel kayak chaos.
Inflatables are a different story from hardshells; more in My Flips on the Upper Clackamas. For inflatable kayaks I carry, check out the kayaks in the shop.
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 31, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
