THE ART OF THE KICKFLIP

In this column, Bartosz shares the magic of freestyle. More than learning ticks, developing freestyle skills will progress your kayaking by allowing you to feel more confident on the river and more comfortable and controlled in challenging situations.

By Bartosz Czauderna

After covering the double pump in the last issue, we already know a fair bit about cross-overs between whitewater disciplines and how to initiate an edge. Now we are going to have a look at the next level skill – the kickflip. THE KICKFLIP A kickflip is a barrel roll, a 360° rotation on the longitudinal axis of the boat, with air. Paddling downstream, the kickflip opens the door to downriver play, whether launching off the peak of a wave or throwing a cobra flip off a waterfall. In freestyle, it transitions well to an airscrew. Like any move, the kick flip can be broken down into four phases, preparation, initiation, execution, and landing. Use the chart below to understand what your boat, body, and blade should be doing in…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2020

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