WHITEWATER INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES

HOW TO FLATSPIN YOUR PLAYBOAT

Video: Simon Coward

What exactly is a "flatspin", and why should you give it a try? The answer is simple—this dynamic whitewater move is a lot of fun! A flatspin involves spinning your kayak a full 360 degrees on a wave or in a hole. In this guide, we’ll break down an easy, step-by-step progression to help you master the flatspin in a playboat. We’ll start with the fundamentals in flatwater, move on to an eddy line, and finally take it to a wave or hole.

BUILDING A FOUNDATION

Just like all our sessions, our focus is on creating a solid foundation of skills to help you master more advanced maneuvers. Our flatspin progression follows the same approach. To set yourself up for success, we encourage you to first nail down the flat water techniques before taking on the moving water challenges.

PREREQUISITES FOR SUCCESS

To make the most of this tutorial, ensure you're comfortable with the following essential skills:

• Kayak Edging: The ability to control the tilt of your kayak.
• Proper Body Rotation: Understanding how to rotate your body effectively.
• Eddy Recognition: Identifying eddy lines and currents.
• Confident Eddy Entries and Exits: Skillfully entering and exiting eddies.
• Forward and Reverse Sweep Strokes: Reliable forward and reverse sweep strokes.
• Kayak Surfing: Suficient practice surfing waves and holes.
• Reliable Roll: Being able to roll consistently.
• Appropriate Kayak: Paddle a whitewater playboat, and you are comfortable in said playboat.

IDEAL LEARNING LOCATION

As far as ideal learning locations go for this progression, look for a location with these attributes:

• Medium-Sized Eddy: Look for an eddy with a well-defined eddy line. This will help you understand how the current interacts with your boat.

• Smooth Surf Wave or Hole: Find a feature where you feel completely comfortable, with a safe runout. Ideally, this spot should have a large, easily accessible eddy nearby so you can rinse and repeat the maneuver frequently.

THE TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN

As with all our progressions, we tend to break things down in a pretty granular fashion, and that'll be no different for the flatspin. We’re going to start on flatwater, then move to an eddy line, and finally progress to a hole or wave.

FLAT WATER PRACTICE

1. Sit with your boat flat and fix your gaze on a specific point ahead.
2. Rotate your body to the left and plant a big reverse sweep stroke while keeping your eyes on that point.
3. As the boat spins 180 degrees, switch your gaze over the opposite shoulder while still looking at that same fixed point.
4. Plant a big right-hand sweep stroke to complete the spin.

Practice this sequence a few times to build muscle memory before moving on to the next step.

Sweep Stroke Efficiency

The next step in flatwater is to make your sweep as effective as possible by using body rotation and upper and lower body separation. Here’s how:

1. Start with your boat flat and your gaze fixed.
2. As you place a reverse sweep on the left, rotate your body significantly. Instead of pushing the blade toward your feet, pull your knees and feet to the blade. This will maximize your spin momentum.
3. At the 180-degree point, cast your gaze over your shoulder at the same fixed point. Plant the forward sweep and rotate your feet and knees away from the blade.

Practice these movements until you have the mechanics dialed in. Remember to keep your head movement consistent and dynamic. Once you're comfortable, it's time to move to an eddy line.

EDDY LINE PRACTICE

The maneuver on the eddy line will be very similar to flatwater but with a bit more finesse:

1. Position the bow of your boat just touching the current.
2. Repeat the same sequence: body rotation, blade planting, foot-to-blade motion, gaze change, forward sweep, and rotate toward a full 360-degree spin.
3. The water should help you spin without pushing you downstream. If you find yourself drifting downstream, adjust closer to the eddy to maintain control.

Pro Tip: This maneuver is fantastic for scouting rapids and keeping an eye on your group both upstream and downstream while instructing or managing a team.

EDGE CHANGE

Now, let’s add a small but critical component—an edge change:

1. While performing the reverse sweep, slightly lift your upstream edge.
2. When you reach the 180-degree point of the spin, switch edges to what is now the upstream edge (left knee).
3. This adjustment allows the current to pass smoothly under your boat, mimicking the feel of surfing and spinning in a wave or hole.

Practice this edge change until it becomes second nature. You want to feel the current helping your boat spin without being flushed downstream or catching an edge.

MOVING WATER

Now, let’s head to a wave or hole! The video features Chubbies on the Kananaskis River, an excellent spot to learn the flatspin. It’s more of a hole than a wave, so it has some unique nuances.

1. Settle into a side surf position.
2. The mechanics are similar to what we’ve covered: lift the upstream edge slightly, look upstream at a fixed point, rotate your body downstream, plant the blade, and drive your feet toward the blade.
3. As the boat reaches a downstream angle, switch your gaze over the opposite shoulder, plant the right-hand sweep stroke, and complete the spin.

Choose a friendly feature, and put in plenty of reps. If you struggle, go back to the eddy line, refine your body movements, and try again.

COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

• Lack of Body Rotation: Ensure you rotate sufficiently during the sweeps to complete the full 180-degree spin.
• Incorrect Edge Use: Use the correct edge throughout the spin to avoid flipping and rolling.
• Not Looking Upstream: Keep your gaze fixed upstream to prevent being flushed off the feature.
• Ineffective Paddle Strokes: Engage both upper and lower body rotation, not just your arms, for effective spins.

[ Also watch: How to Stern Squirt Your Kayak ]

FINAL TIPS

Mastering flatspins takes practice and patience. Here are some final tips:

• Start in flatwater to dial in the basics.
• Keep your gaze cast upstream throughout the move.
• Utilize body rotation over arm strength.
• Use the correct edge and edge change to ensure smooth spins in dynamic features.