Did my First Cartwheel

[Bart T]

unfortunately it was not on purpose... i had just rolled and the next wave i hit launched me into mid air upside down. (this was in mixmaster on Main Payette) but what the hell, it felt cool, and i'm going to try and do it again on purpose my next trip.

any tips?

[Conundrum]

any tips?

Drop into Mike's Hole (above Chief Parish) and do a bunch of accidentals...

Where you from?

[Bart T]

thanks Conundrum. i've lived in Boise the last 4-5 years, and am currently in Jackson where I'll be most of the year.

[Storm11]

When you're riding the hole, line your boat up and lean back a bit to start riding higher on the pile (not too much, you're not going for a loop here) just enough to give yourself some room. Lean forward a bit an you'll start heading for the green water. Put your boat on edge and when you start to hit the green water, throw a reverse pry stroke and lean forwards toward your feet. When you feel the boat start to rotate, lean back to a neutral position and stern draw off the pile. Remember to ALWAYS LEAD WITH YOUR HEAD. You will go where your head goes. Once you get that, you'll have an intentional cartwheel. The hardest part (which I still haven't mastered) is learning to transfer back to your other edge after your stern draw, thus linking multiple cartwheels.

Good luck and get ready to spend some time upside down.

[kayaktheworld]

To cratwheel you shouldn't lean forwards or backwards. Stay in an upright position the whole time.

To initiate, place your bow near the crease between the pile and th green water. Put your boat on edge. Turn your torso down towards the water. Take a backstroke (since you are facing the water, this is almost a down stroke). Keep looking upstream.

Once your boat reaches vertical, turn your body so that your torso is a head of your boat. Place your next stroke, a forward sweep, and use your torso muscles to pull your boat around for the next end.

Lead everything with your torso and try to stay facing upstream, always. Always look upstream.

[yemntftb]

Explain the pile and green water?

[Yonder_River]

The pile is the foamy, fluffy part of the hole/wave that is caused by the the smooth or glassy "green" water flowing over an obstacle (usually a boulder or constriction in the river that causes a gradient change) and then recirculating upon itself. The recirculation of the pile is caused by the initial acceleration of the water and then the slowing down where it falls back on itself. That's a little wordy, but hopefully you get the idea.

[kayaktheworld]

The pile is the foamy part that you surf on. The green is the water flowing downstream. The crease is where the foam and the downstream water meet.

If you really want to learn this stuff, I highly recomend EJ's paly boating DVD's. They have video examples, exercises, etc that do a much better job explaining things than an internet post can.

[yemntftb]

Well I know what you're talking about, I've been whitewater kayaking for eight years...however I have never heard those terms...either way I know what your saying.

Thanks

[Yonder_River]

How tha heck do you go eight years without hearing those words used?

[mtcham]

foamy=pile, smooth=green.

[yemntftb]

How tha heck do you go eight years without hearing those words used?

Lots of kayaking by myself.

[madturtle]

Lots of kayaking by myself.

Not surprising in Saratoga. You are talking about Saratoga NY? Where do you usually kayak? I grew up in Latham but live in CA now.

[yemntftb]

yeah Saratoga NY, paddle the SOC atleast once a week, if you call that paddling...