Behind the back

The "behind the back" roll is a forward leaning roll. After you capsize you kiss the deck, your inboard hand is placed high up your back (and toward the side that the paddle is extended on).

Sweep forward from stern to bow in a low brace, with the paddle kept over/behind your back, perpendicular to your spine. The "behind-the-back" roll is one of the most contorted of all the Greenland rolls and can be spatially confusing to learn.

I found this roll easiest to learn by working at it backwards. With the paddle in the finish position, I practiced leaning over and sculling up, then capsizing completely toward the paddle, and recovering without the scull, and finally getting into the tuck and performing the complete roll. You are allowed to cup one hand around the end on this one, but you can do it also by sliding your hand to the extreme end of the paddle.

On this roll, when I capsize, I tuck strongly forward, and this allows me to place my inboard hand high up my back. This gives you the ability to sweep the paddle with your outboard hand. I prefer to sweep stern to bow, and then recover by sweeping back toward the stern (it feels like you "pry" yourself up). You are permitted to scull up, if necessary. This roll can be painful, avoid it if you have a history of shoulder problems. Many folks confuse this roll with the "spine" roll, where the paddle is kept behind your back (parallel to your spine) and projects over your head). The "behind-the-back" roll is one of the most contorted of all the Greenland rolls and can be spatially confusing to learn. I found this roll easiest to learn by working at it backwards. With the paddle in the finish position, I practiced leaning over and sculling up, then capsizing completely toward the paddle, and recovering without the scull, and finally getting into the tuck and performing the complete roll. You are allowed to cup one hand around the end on this one, but you can do it also by sliding your hand to the extreme end of the paddle.

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"Sheer torture" makes it sound like you are doing it properly-- it is a painful roll, particularly when you are learning it. In the set-up, I dip the extended blade deeper, so when I capsize, it is up in the air-- this ensures more travelling distance during the sweep and 'yank'. I saw on fellow in Greenland try the sweep, fail to gain much distance, and then sweep several more times, back & forth-- sculling. This may help, I'm not sure. I tried it once, and couldn't scull effectively in this position, so now I bank on hitting it the first time. --Harvey

http://www.qajaqpnw.org/sstiks-006.jpg http://www.qajaqpnw.org/sstiks-007.jpg

Ted Henry photos

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