Playboater's Handbook 2: The Ultimate Guide to Freestyle Kayaking - Softcover

Whiting, Ken

9781896980065: Playboater's Handbook 2: The Ultimate Guide to Freestyle Kayaking

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1896980066 ISBN 13: 9781896980065

Publisher: Heliconia Pr Inc, 2002

A completely updated look at freestyle kayaking technique, this master reference includes over twice as many moves as the first edition. Whether you’re looking to catch your first wave, or are searching for the secrets to the most advanced play-moves like the aerial loop or Tricky Whu, this book will open up the world of freestyle kayaking to every paddler.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Ken Whiting, World Champion kayaker, is one of the most influential and respected paddlers in the world, and was recognized as such by Paddler Magazine as one of their “Paddlers of the Century.” Through his award-winning instructional books and DVDs and his activities as a contributing writer to virtually every paddlesport magazine, Ken has also established himself as a leader of paddlesport instruction.

Flatwater Cartwheel

The flatwater cartwheel is a staple playboating move and a major goal for many paddlers. The flatwater cartwheel demonstrates a high level of comfort, balance, and power, as well as an understanding of edge control. With that said, if a big enough, experienced paddler squeezes into a small enough boat, he or she will be throwing flatwater ends fairly quickly. This doesn't mean that the right technique is being used. There is a clear difference between a quality flatwater cartwheel and a muscled flatwater cartwheel. The quality cartwheel will resemble the spinning of an actual wheel. With the body acting as an axle, the boat will revolve at a fairly constant rate. A muscled cartwheel will act more like a wheel with a couple of flat sides. The rotation will stall out after each end as the paddler "hits the wall". Spin momentum then has to be re-established for every end. The best way of looking at a quality flatwater cartwheel is as an aggressive combination of the bow and stern pivot turns. So if you haven't started practicing those pivot turns, you now have another great reason to do so!

So what's the key to the pivot turns again? The key is having the fine edge control to maintain your spin momentum, which means not "hitting the wall". The same goes for the flatwater cartwheel. The key to a quality cartwheel is keeping the upper body quiet and making smooth edge transitions that allow you to maintain your spin momentum. Don't expect to make vertical cartwheels either. The ideal flatwater cartwheel is in fact less than vertical and closer to 70 degrees. At this lower angle you can keep your weight over the kayak and stay balanced throughout the move.

The flatwater cartwheel is initiated with the basic pump technique that we just covered, though you'll need to do so with enough power to bring your bow right underneath your body. Initiating this move with a little forward speed will make it easier to throw the bow down. As we already discussed, the power you'll need to force your bow underwater can only be found through torso rotation. Once you've wound up your bow, turn your whole upper body so your chest faces the water and plant a backstroke just behind your hip. You now unwind your body by pushing off the paddle, throwing your weight forward and pulling your feet downwards with your knees and your stomach muscles. As a rule of thumb, your hands should always stay in front of your shoulders, in what I call the 'power position' (see the Shoulder Safety segment). This will keep your shoulders in a safe position and force your body to rotate for any strokes behind your hip. Going back to the bow pivot turn technique, you should know that in order to keep spin momentum going it is crucial that you level off your kayak before your backstroke has finished. For the cartwheel, you'll want to continue past level with this edge transition and tilt your boat in the other direction. Your bow will now charge up toward the water surface while your stern falls downward. As the stern drops to the water you should be preparing for a stern pivot turn. Since you already hae so much spin momentum, you shouldn't need to lean back to help sink your stern. In fact, it is best to keep your upper body in a moderately aggressive position and as quiet as possible. The key is to continue leading the way with your head and upper body, staying ahead of your kayak's progression. As your stern hits the water, you should have a forward sweep stroke already planted at your toes that will help pull your bow into the air. Before the stroke is finished be sure you have levelled off your kayak and started tilting your boat in the other direction. Once again, lead with your head and body, plant a backstroke and pull your bow underwater with the help of your knees and stomach muscles.

One of the most common problems paddlers have when flatwater cartwheeling is falling over vertical. If you find this happening, keep working on your pivot turns, making sure that you're not hitting the wall. If you hit the wall when throwing your kayak down at a 60-90 degree angle, you'll usually end up falling on your face. If you are confident that you are indeed making smooth edge transitions and not hitting the wall, then consider your body position. When your bow is underwater, are you keeping your weight forward? When upright on the bow, the natural tendency is to stand up on the foot braces and lean back. Believe it or not, leaning back actually causes your kayak to pass vertical, so keep your weight forward. We'll look at this in more detail in the bow and stern stalling segments.

Overview - Flatwater Cartwheel

- The flatwater cartwheel is simply a combination of elevated stern and bow pivot turns.

- Initiate with a double pump and aggressively lead the way with the head and body.

- Before each stroke has finished, make sure you have made the transition to the next edge.

- Keep your weight forward as much as possible, and continue to lead the way with your head and body.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.