Big Air....uhhuh crash

Just wanted to share this one with you... It wasnt actually as painful as it looks.

Technique-basics-Head leads the way...(Cartwheels)

Hi,
In freestyle the head movements are of great importance in both K1 and C1. It is stressed in every guidebook or educational DVD. However, many freestyle adepts do not do the head movements properly which causes incomplete moves, flushing and generally non-dynamic moves.

So why is the head movement so important? It is important because if you turn your head you also move a lot of your body in that direction (unconsciously) and moving bodyweight around is crucial for all sorts of rotations.

Simple rule is this -always look where you want the boat to go!

The best way to learn the head rotation are cartwheels.

During cartwheels it is essential that you always turn your head in the direction of the move. Your head has to lead the way-i.e. it should always be turned further in the respective direction than the long axis of the boat. If it is so you continue the rotation not loosing the momentum.
It is also important to focus on hip rotation.
So in the end you have two basic movements

1. Hip rotation.
2. Head/bodyweight rotation.

If you initiate the cartwheel (i.e. you plant stroke) these two movements are simultaneous but as soon as the boat starts rotating the head has to be further rotated than the hips.

Watch this video to see the usual trouble resulting from insufficient head rotation.



Watch this video to see the correct head rotation. Notice that as soon as the head stops rotating the boat stops too and another set-up for move is needed...



Other moves:
Split wheels- Look into the hole.
Blunts- on waves always look to where you want the bow of your boat to land. So...
Front blunts(onside)-turn your head snappily behind your shoulder in the direction of the move (you ll actually be looking at the same spot from where your stern has taken off)
Back blunts-turn your head snappily behind your shoulder in the direction of the move (you ll be looking upstream)

I ll be dealing with these moves specifically later on...
So long... hope it helped a bit...

C1 on waves I.- offside carving/balance

Hey again,
This article is related to other articles that have already been published here. Articles were on Onside roundhouse and Offside roundhouse.
These articles are primarily concerned with freestyle moves. This article should show you the techniques that are essential for successful basic movements like surfing and carving which are essential for successful onset for moves on big waves.

C1 paddlers have serious disadvantages in freestyle paddling. We, however, have advantages as well and bigger waves offer many opportunities to use these advantages to the maximum.

First how do we deal with the disadvantages.

For many C1res the main disadvantage is the absence of the second blade and resulting inability to brace on the offside. The problem with crossdeck brace is that while it can be done on flatwater, in a hole or in the foamy part of a wave it cant be done on the green part.
But we have hands dont we?? The basic technique for regaining balance and/or for carving control is to use the palm of your hand either letting loose of the T-grip or just stretching the fingers while still holding the grip between the thumb and the palm.
Another technique is simply to avoid getting of balance. This is done by keeping your weight center above the boat.
But how to do this while carving to your offside (carving is initiated on the edge by putting weight on it). The essential thing is to shift your shoulders to your onside. So now your lower body part puts weight on the offside edge while the upper part shifts to your onside thus keeping your balance as well as the carving.

bounce for an onside blunt- offside carve/shoulders to the onside

Carving to the offside weight of the upper body above the boat

The same again: shoulders to the onside, your knees pushing the offside rail, head leads the way

Onside cleanblunt landing, notice the desperate effort to keep all weight possible above the boat.


Watch this video to see how to do that. Notice the shoulders are actually mirroring the movements of the lower body part (i.e. going in opposite direction) while the body leans forward to put weight on the offside rail thus initiating the carve. Also notice the arms are copying the direction of the carve and the offside hand controls the carve by touching the green.



More coming soon...
So long and keep practicing. Also let me know if the article helped in any way... or whether anybody actually reads this stuff.
Jan