K A Y A K T E C H N I Q U E
the
space Godzilla >> A MUTATED CLONE OF THE LOOP
SpaceGodzilla is one nasty modified clone of the kaiju (a Japanese word meaning mys- terious creature) Godzilla. Not to be confused with its namesake, a space Godzilla is a whitewater freestyle move that is a modified version of the loop. Instead of just tucking forward and finishing the move like a front flip, you tuck forward
and to one side, rotating your boat 90 degrees and finishing on the stern end of a cart- wheel. The best space Godzillas are performed completely aerial. Which might explain the name, because when you really kill it—both the monster and the move—it bursts into little bits of energy and floats skywards. The monster was introduced in the 1994 movie Godzilla versus SpaceGodzilla where-
as space Godzilla, the freestyle move, was created in 2000 by Javid Grubbs, ‘97 World Jr. Champion, at a time when the Riot Disco was leading the spud boat revolution. The kaiju from space has not appeared in any films since, but the whitewater space Godzilla can still be seen rising out of rivers everywhere.
Jump up on your pegs 1. Set up high on the foam pile of a deep hole and plug your bow 2. Once your bow has entered the water and your boat begins to
into the seam by throwing your weight forward; think about push- ing your feet to the bottom of the river. To space Godzilla to the right, as you initiate your bow, low brace on the left to help set up your boat and body for the next part of the move.
be forced vertical, jump up on your pegs. Timing your jump so you and your boat reach vertical at the same time will give you the most air.
3. As soon as your boat goes past vertical and starts to come over
your head, tuck forward into a neutral position, reaching across your boat and planting your right blade in the green water at your knee. This winds up your torso, starts the boat’s rotation and gets you in a ready position. Keep your eyes upstream into the hole.
4. Take a forward stroke, unwind your torso and slam the stern
down, like a cartwheel. As your stern end is about to touch down, your head should follow your body around to look over your shoulder and back upstream into the hole.
5. As you land, take a forward stroke with your left blade to keep T I P S F O R S U C C E S S : r
g 6
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The best holes for learning this move are deep, sticky and are straight across so they don’t push you one way or the other.
Although not necessary, putting a beach ball or IR Overthruster under your skirt provides an extra bit of volume and pop out of the water.
Once you have mastered the space Godzilla try linking it into a flurry of cartwheels.
—Kelsey Thompson of Truro, N.S. placed third in Men’s K1 at the 2006 Canadian Freestyle Team Trials.
Forward stroke to level your tilt Slam the stern you in the hole and to regain balance while you flatten your boat. Plug your bow
Plant your blade and rotate
PHOTOS MICHELLE BASSO
RAPID
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