How to get out of a sticky hole (aka stopper). Whitewater Kayak Tutorial

A good friend told me the perfect way to test any hole out!! Hey Bill that hole looks sweet 😂 😮

Great video. My small experience is that the best way to learn how to escape a hole, is to spend some time play boating in “ friendly holes. This can help with keeping your elbows in position and eventually result in skills like cartwheeling that can walk you out of a hole😊

One thing that has been helping me as I learn is to see what you are doing with the paddle. It would probably help a lot of people to see the technique and maybe to correct our bad technique. Obviously show us the in the water clips, but a quick this is what I do just on dry land... Thanks for actually reading our comments, and putting so many of our ideas in your videos.

Interesting video, thanks. I am a sea paddler, but it is very interesting to learn from other paddling styles.

Thanks Seth I’m learning and you are helping . Also helps reading the comments

Awesome of you to make these vids thanks plenty. Maybe see you on Ottawa sometime!

Nice table, Glad your engaging in good flossing practice. Staying heathy 2020!

Thank you for this, Great stuff man!!

Great video, concise and to the point. Thanks

Thank you! I appreciate these videos

Suggest expanding this video to include what to do if the exit point is behind you. Should you paddle backwards (and what would be your stroke and posture), turn the boat around, etc? Also, I have found that a critical skill in exiting a hole in the manner you describe is to be able to sit balanced in your boat so you are not 'leaning' on the paddle to stay upright. Chris Spelius at NOC used to teach this balance in Jaws on the Nolichucky by having people throw away their paddle and hand paddle out of the hole -- you can't lean on your hands for this maneuver!

Top tips, excellent content 😎

Very nice! Thanks!

Can you cover how to know what side to roll on once your already upside down. Cuz I often pick the wrong side

Good video. Now paint that wall.

Seth, Rarely, but it can happen, one can find themselves in a killer class-5 hole where swimming might not be enough. I found myself in one such hole on the Kings in high water. First I cartwheeled, then windowshaded repeatedly with no hope of bracing or taking even a single breath. I swam. But it didn't help because I kept recycling underneath the froth without any hope of getting a breath. What to do? Ditch your paddle, and life vest if necessary, and swim down, as deep as you can. After a few cycles of battling the hole and with no life vest I got out at a depth of 20 feet. As the bubbles cleared I could see the surface and used my last energy to swim up. I blacked out a few feet from the surface but remained conscious as I took my huge first breath. With oxygen in my blood my sight was quickly restored and my buddies towed me ashore. My kayak remained in the holed for almost half an hour until the pillar and float bags had been ripped out and my boat was finally recovered.

Great video! Like Dominic, I would have liked some info on what to do when you are upside down and having trouble rolling up or staying upright. Techniques for both rolling up, and for what to do if you can’t. Can you reach down into current with paddle blade and use that to help you roll or to help get pulled out of hole? When should you decide to pull, and when shouldn’t you? Etc.

Can the next video on this topic be getting out of holes that are walled in (think the top wave at Holme Pierrepont) or just generally have curling in sides that are harder to punch through/go over to surf out of the side? Loved this video, definitely going to help some paddlers at uni haha.

Thank Seth for your video, really appreciate. Wondering if you developed a little more about when you're upside-down in the hole. Which role are you doing or what the difference aspect you're doing when you're in hole. You're mental game approach. How can you locate where is the down stream side ( easiest side to do a roll). Thank you Dominic

the flip+wiggle is my personal favourite method for getting out of holes