The Flat Spin is a move that is only possible in planing hulled kayaks. The boats of today flat spin incredible well on almost any wave, but the faster steeper waves will be best to learn this move.

Step one: To set up for the flat spin you want to get to the peak of the wave and point directly upstream into the waves troth. To do this you’ll carve to the shoulder of the wave and cut back into it’s heart before you flush off the backside. This technique is used to set up all wave moves and will take some time to get good at because there is a fine line between surfing at the peak of a wave and falling off the backside.

1. Set up at the top of the wave

Step Two: As soon as you feel yourself begin to slide upstream initiate your flat spin with a back sweep and shift your weight forward to help pull your stern edges from the water. On slower waves you can push down on your back sweep to help pop you stern edges. If you don’t get your stern edges out of the water your boat will want to carve and you’ll carve off the wave.

2. Initiate the spin with a back sweep

Step Three: Once backwards take a back recovery stroke on the opposite side from which you initiated the spin to help keep you on the wave and maintain control.

3. Take a recovery stroke to stay on the wave

Step Four: Once your recovery stroke is finished you can turn it into a forward sweep to continue the spin. This time you need to lean back as you take your sweep to get your bow edges out of the water and take a forward recovery stroke on the opposite side to keep yourself on the wave.

4. Use a foward sweep to spin back to a front surf

Step Five: When spinning from front surf to back surf you should be keeping your eyes upstream. This means looking over your trailing shoulder until your ready for the next stroke. When it’s time to spin back to a front surf, turn and look over your leading shoulder as you plant your forward sweep. Keeping your eyes upstream is a crucial skill to master and will come in handy when you start working on more advanced moves like the cartwheel.

5. Keep your eye’s upstream