One of the ultimate quests of any serious sea kayaker is certainly a bombproof roll.

Although there will always be some circumstance in which a roll might fail, some advice I received from Warren Williamson can--I believe--greatly help one arrive at the point where a wet exit would be a very remote possibility (for those who don't know him, enter his name in YouTube and watch some of his stuff at Deception Pass...you'll see his qualifications):

Although he is an expert at Greenland rolls, and more importantly, an expert at doing those rolls in the very tough tide rip conditions of Deception Pass, he suggested a technique which he has found to be a critical backup in truly scary conditions (whatever those may be for you). He advises first moving to a side scull, then rolling up from there when ready.

I have found that this method has completely transformed my roll. I had essentially a foolproof rolling technique before. However, under the worst of conditions, I would wet exit before I had completely exhausted my efforts at rolling...mostly a psychological thing. Yet by side sculling first, one can take a breather, collect oneself, and then popping up from there is quite easy. And unlike a standard roll, if a big wave slams you as you start to roll up, it's no big deal. You're just back side sculling, ready to pop up whenever you choose. And generally you can sense the wave's imminent approach and just keep sculling, while the wave washes smoothly over you.

The pause side sculling before popping up can be quite short, almost imperceptible. The key is that by having the first task simply getting to a sculling position that will allow one to breathe, it takes all the pressure off to roll-or-else. This keeps one from rushing the roll, which is the usual cause of failure.

For any Greenland paddler, I would strongly urge you to add this to your repertoire if you're not already doing it. It has been a complete rough-water game changer for me (and apparently Warren), as I discovered while getting thrashed in ocean surf several days this week. For euro paddlers, it may not be a simple--as sculling is easier with a Greenland paddle--but still probably a great weapon to have.

I've been working on my side scull with my big fat euro paddle and it works pretty well. It's definitely a big help in improving your roll success. Once you have it on flat water, side sculling across an eddy line or in 'conditions' really helps you solidify the technique.
Other techniques to bombproof your roll.
Work on hang-time. This reduces the anxiety of needing to roll up immediately and lets you wait for the right moment in dynamic water. At deception pass, for example, getting held inverted in a whirlpool or eddy line is not uncommon and you may have to wait to get spit out before rolling up. It's only a few seconds but those can feel like some LONG seconds.
Switching sides underwater. Set up one side, capsize then switch and roll up.
Rolling with half a paddle.
Rolling with half your spare paddle retrieved while inverted. Last night I was practicing the half paddle roll and failed so pulled the other half off the front deck, assembled it while capsized and rolled up. Makes you realize you have A LOT of time while capsized.

Those are some good ideas. In particular, waiting until your brain is screaming for air, and then doing an unhurried roll with your best technique is great practice. It is critical to re-train your mind and muscle memory from "need air bad"=wet exit, over to "need air bad"=roll (or side scull). When under great stress, almost everyone will act in an automatic way--your brain won't let you sit there and deliberate. As initial learners--and by instinct probably--we learned that a wet exit was a sure way to get air. It is not enough to have great technique when not stressed (even in rough water); we need to create stress (by waiting until very air hungry) and train ourselves to do a slow, focused roll under those circumstances.

I found surfing last week that the confidence I had developed through this two-part staged roll (side sculling first) made it suprisingly easy to remain poised while being held under and thrashed in a wave, having complete confidence that I could easily scull to get a breath, even if another wave would soon be thrashing me.

I've been side sculling and sculling to verticle and sculling for air before reorienting a second roll for three decades now. The trick is to learn it both sides, do it with grace or splashful energy - who cares, just learn to be successful at it. In truly rough, textured water, or where's there's a high wind-energy component or breaking ocean deep-water seas, getting back up and being in a combat-ready state can't be overstated in its importance. I cannot concieve of rough-water solo paddling without these skillsets.

Doug Lloyd

<<getting back up and being in a combat-ready state can't be overstated in its importance. I cannot concieve of rough-water solo paddling without these skillsets>>

I agree. But I would also add one thing: I do not believe the skill set in rough conditions should be any less for one traveling with partners than for one traveling solo. For in rough conditions, one can easily find themselves functionally solo: the other paddlers may not be able to help for all kinds of reasons. Having one's security be in the skills of another is dangerous.

That's the one thing that should be axiomatic with all aspects of paddling: travel, pack, train as if solo all the time. Then, and only than, are you truly in a safer "place" and not a liability to those who you do paddle with when you do travel in a group. That's one reason I don't split gear between paddlers (I have the tent, my buddy has the stove, etc). If there's an issue with gear load and progress, then help with towing is a better option. As for rescue skills, when things get bad, it may be every paddler for themselves anyway - even if unintended. If skill-sets need work, well, get on it. :-)

Axiomatic is absolutely right. We are all ultimately responsible for looking out for ourselves, and should never abdicate that responsibility by making the deeply flawed assumption that someone else will do it for us..

Warren Williamson really is a marvel. Aquatic poetry in motion. The Deception Pass video with the huge wind-against-tide water and Warren, solo, appearing so at ease, languidly sculling up with his Inuit paddle - well, it just blew me away. A beautiful and inspirational demonstration of how marvelous and seaworthy our little boats can be in the hands of a highly skilled paddler.

I really love sculling and find it to be the most meditative of all the strokes. Also a really great way to improve blade control.

I've been working hard at re-grooving my brain with respect to the wet-exit / roll / air situation and I agree 100% that it is valuable and effective training, particularly for folks like myself who have some claustrophobia lurking in the closet. Wayne Horodowich (University of Sea Kayaking) has penned an excellent article entitled "The Mental Game of Rolling". Read it on paddling.net or his site.

Finally, I think we would do well to start placing some distance between ourselves and the notion that there is such a thing as a "bombproof roll". By definition, it implies perfection - an unattainable state. Not that we shouldn't continuously strive for improvement in technique; just that "bombproof" sends a false message - to novices, intermediates, and expert paddlers - all of whom are poorly served by carrying that notion around in their heads. Begone, vile hubris, let us embrace a more realistic and truthful image of this marvelous skill.
Moulton Avery

"I think we would do well to start placing some distance between ourselves and the notion that there is such a thing as a "bombproof roll". By definition, it implies perfection - an unattainable state. "

Absolutely. That's why I titled the post the way I did. It is a journey, and the journey is "toward" perfection. No one will ever get there, but that is the direction the wise big-water paddler should aim for.