Rodeo 101

Article courtesy of the Nantahala Outdoor Center

Now, it's your turn! OK, so maybe you aren't gunning for fame and fortune as a rodeo star, wowing the crowd as the TV cameras record your triumph. That's no reason you can't push your own performance envelope a little and have some fun with friends at the local play spot. Here's a primer of some basic freestyle moves to get you started.

Ender

This is a basic vertical move, using the downward force of the upstream face of a wave or hole to stand the boat on end. This is done by placing the bowof the boat in the upstream wave.

1. Paddle forward and maintain good directional control.

2. Same as (1)

3. As the bow begins entry, stay parallel to the direction of the current.

4. The bow of the boat is buried in the upstream wave.

5. Keep your boat parallel to the current.

6. Keeping your head up helps to prevent the boat from flopping over upside down. For an Ender to finish upside down, keep the head forward.

Pirouette

This is a move following an Ender in which the boat executes a 1800 or more vertical spin and lands upright.

1. Go for it! Keep the boat parallel to the current.

2. As you reach back to spin into a Pirouette, the boat plunges into the water.

3. As the boat comes up, spin with a reverse sweep.

4. The boat is up and coming around. Keep pushing with the paddle blade.

5. To land upright, bring the blade around to brace on recovery.

Whippet

Whippet is a retentive maneuver in which a paddler's boat travels vertically through an arc and lands back in the hole. The boat's end is pulled through the arc by the force of the downstream water under the backwash and the boat's midsection is held in the hole by the upstream push of the backwash.

1. Use a low brace to pull the bow under with help from the current. Keep your head held at the same height above the water.

2. As the boat comes around, reach for the next stroke with your paddle blade.

3. Reach with a good stroke to pull the stern through.

4. The stern is on its way. Keep pulling forward with the paddle.

McTwist

This is an elevated spin in which a paddler's boat is dynamically lifted and spun by the upstream water at the corner of the hole. The center of the boat stays in the same "sweet" spot of the backwash. Described below is a Double McTwist, a linked retentive move.

1. Place the tip of your stern into the corner of the hole. Reach downstream with your paddle blade.

2. Pull through with the blade and look at your next move. Keep your head held at the same height above the water.

3. Switch blades and get ready for the bow move.

4. As the bow sinks, use a low left brace. Keep your eye on the hole.

5. The bow goes under as the stern is lifted by the current.

6. Start looking for your next move as you land back in the hole.

Special thanks to the Nantahala Outdoor Center for providing these pages.