Kayaking Terminology Guide by James Ibbotson
Whitewater kayaking is a niche sport and something that takes a while to learn are the specific words associated with the various disciplines of whitewater kayaking.
Through the next few blogs we are going to give you more information and insight. So whether you are a Beginner learning to kayak, a keen kayaker of just one discipline or a partner, family member or even groupie here are some words and explanations to set you on your way.
This is our guide to River Terminology, Language or Jargon….
Freestyle Kayaking
James Ibbotson is a British Kayaking Freestyle Champion. He has represented his country at World Championships in Canada, Argentina and also in Spain. Here is a guide written by him to just some of the more novel names in the Kayaking Freestyle world….
Freestyle kayaking is full of weird and wonderful terms to describe what the hell is going on. From space godzillas to woodies, the names of tricks is a strange list with some making more sense than others. So here is a list of some of my favourite tricks with the weirdest names, and an attempt to understand them….
1 – The McNasty
The Mcnasty is a move that involves half a spin straight into a front flip (or loop), and is one of the staple moves that most freestyle paddlers can perform.
I have no idea where the name came from (maybe a McMuffin fan) but when done right it is far from nasty. This is a trick that offers up lots of points in a competition, and a strong sense of satisfaction when pulled off right.
2 – Lunar Orbit
What on earth does the moon flying around have to do with freestyle kayaking? Well it is a trick that you see being thrown my many freestylers. Spinning around on the back of the boat, finishing with either a back flip or cartwheels.
The first half of the trick, the orbit, has been around for years. In my opinion, this trick looks the best in C1 discipline (using a one bladed paddle while sitting on your knees) but what doesn’t?!
3 – Blunt
Nope, not that one… This one you do on a wave, bouncing into the air and turning the boat round to be pointing downstream.
This is easily one of the coolest looking moves when you go huge on a giant wave, or throwing it round on a smaller wave. One of the most powerful and explosive moves out there.
4 – Tricky Woo
Is it tricky? Does it make the crowd go woo? Well kind of. This trick is basically three cartwheel ends where you spin the boat around on each end.
This trick provided me with my favourite pieces of commentary at the Natural Games in France. The French commentator yelled out ‘Triiicky WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!’.
5 – Sasquatch
Illusive, mysterious, appears out of nowhere? That’s the Sasquatch! Ride down the face of the wave, take a bounce and throw your weight back! Top marks if you get over vertical and wet your head!
The best Sasquatch are seen in the Canadian wilderness during stakeout season when the waves are at their biggest! One of the most fun moves to throw and see, they literary come out of nowhere!
So that is just five of the weirdest tricks from the world of freestyle, it seems like it was a competition to come up with the strangest name for new tricks. But that is what makes freestyle entertaining, the fact that it is all about being different from the next person. And it could be worse, in snowboard freestyle they have a move called the ‘chicken salad’!
A HUGE thanks to James for taking some time out of his training regime to give us this insight into the mystic art of freestyle kayaking.
If you have any questions about these moves or want to know more about Freestyle then just drop us a line and we will see what James can come up with.
To find out more about James Ibbotson check out his profile on the Team pages of Peak UK