K A Y A K t e C h N i Q u e
the secret is out.
photo: Jens Klatt
win big
SIx SECRETS OF
FREESTYLE GOLD
WheN i first starteD training with eric
Jackson four years ago, i was just an eager,
hard-working teen with a couple air blunts un-
der my belt. eJ was quick to teach me that a
few simple steps could transform my paddling
into the stuff of freestyle gold. follow this six-
step program and you’ll be well on your way to
winning the next World Championships or just
your local hometown throwdown.
1. Pick a Partner
Finding a solid training partner is probably the
most important thing you can do to improve your
kayaking. Your partner should be the same skill
level as you, or better. This allows you to learn to-
gether, teaching each other what you know and
climbing the skills ladder twice as fast. A paddling
partner pushes you to go kayaking more often and
try new things, and lets you know if your technique
is correct.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
tween 800 and 1500 points in the men’s division, more you’ve trained the more confident you’ll be.
Practice your moves until they become muscle and 500 to 1000 points in the women’s. Most importantly, relax and remember that you are
memory. The more you rehearse an air blunt the Start by writing down all of your moves. Your competing because it’s fun!
easier it becomes, until the sequence to the move routine should begin with the easiest moves,
NICK troutMaN won the 2009 World Freestyle Championships with
is instinctive. Work not just on the moves you want progress to your medium level tricks and finish a 1510-point ride.
to learn, but also on the moves you already know. with your hardest manoeuvres. Starting with the
Try your easiest moves with less of a setup. Work moves you are most confident with gives you a
on continuously doing tricks and moving around better shot at staying on the feature and getting
the feature. To feel confident with a move for com- some points on the board. Saving your hardest
key Moves foR woRlDS golD
petition, I practice until I can complete it success- moves for the final 10 seconds means that if you
fully four out of five times. Remember that this run out of time or flush, you haven’t wasted your
takes time—don’t get frustrated if your move isn’t ride. Sticking a spin is worth more than flushing
airsCreW
dialed after one hour of practicing. on a helix.
an aerial barrel roll starting from and
landing in a front surf.
3. Cross-train 5. Pump up Your Competitive edge
BaCK PaN aM
The best way to get into shape for kayaking is sim- Practicing your moves in the order of your routine
an inverted and aerial 180-degree
ply to go kayaking… a lot! However, cross-training helps you go faster while competing. Also, allow-
rotation starting backwards and
with other activities builds all-around fitness and ing yourself only 45 seconds for each ride teaches
finishing in a front surf.
is especially important when you aren’t able to you to use less set-up time. The more you practice
paddle as often. Cross-training can take many dif- competing, the less nervous or stressed you’ll find helix
ferent forms. For example, Billy Harris works out at yourself before a competition. a 360-degree flat spin, with 180
the gym five or six times a week, and Ruth Gordon degrees of the spin inverted and
does Pilates and yoga. Regardless of the activ-
6. Program for success
aerial.
ity, the objectives are always the same: maintain To succeed, you need to first visualize yourself
or increase strength, stamina and flexibility, and succeeding. Success doesn’t only mean winning;
MCNastY / PistOl fliP
reduce the risk of injury. it means achieving the goals you have set for your-
a combined 180-degree spin and front
self. Your goal could be completing your routine,
flip, starting backwards and landing in
4. Plan a Winning routine
doing your first loop in competition or making it to
a front surf.
A winning score is different for every competition. finals. Never let first place be your goal. This puts
CleaN air BluNt
You can figure out a rough target range by looking your objective in the hands of your competitors,
an aerial 180-degree vertical rotation,
at each move’s value on the score sheet, then as- and you have no control over the moves or rides
completed without using a paddle
sessing the capabilities of your competitors and of your competitors. To compete well, you need
stroke.
planning a ride that you think will beat theirs. To to be able to brush off a bad ride. Think back to
secure a medal at the Worlds, plan to score be- all your training and preparation for the event; the
20 Rapid spring 2010
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