Cartwheeling is essentially the linking of bow and stern pivot turns in a hole. A good cartwheel will resemble the spinning of a wheel and is one of the most difficult skills to master because it isn’t a single move. Cartwheeling requires excellent edge control, good awareness and constant adjustment.

Cartwheeling in the Lawson Hole in Colorado (Photo Todd Baker)

Step One: Learning to Cartwheel on flat water will make cartwheeling in a hole much easier. Flat water is a controlled environment that will allow you to focus on your technique more than a hole will. Flat water cartwheeling will also give you a better understanding of what you need to do once in a hole. If you can’t flat water cartwheel have a peek at it in the flat water technique section.

Initiate with spin momentum at the seam of the hole

Step Two: To initiate a cartwheel in a hole the first thing you need to do is get on top of the foam pile. Once there slow your upstream momentum using back strokes on either side of your boat. You want to initiate your bow at the seam of the hole with spin momentum already established. To do this you’ll set up at a different angle than you initiate. Ideally you’ll set up at about 2 o’clock for a left end, and initiate at 12 o’clock. Initiating at 12 o’clock allows you to get as vertical as possible and lets the water do most of the work for you. For a left cartwheel your last back stroke should be off of your right blade and your initiation stroke should be off of your left blade. Remember, just like the flat water cartwheel, to use the power of your torso.

Once vertical switch edges by lifting up on your trailing knee

Step Three: As soon as your bow enters the water you need to be ready for your next end. To help yourself get ready for the stern end turn and lead the way with your head. You should be leading so aggressively that you can see your stern enter the water. This is the only way you’ll be able to keep up with your boat’s rotation. In the longer boats you could keep your eye’s upstream until your bow end was finished but in today’s spud boat’s you need to lead super aggressively with your head in order to keep up with your boats rotation.

Lead with your head and pull your stern through with a back stroke

Step Four: Once vertical on your bow you need to pull up with your trailing knee to switch edges, effectively allowing your stern to fall to the water. Now pull on your backstroke to sink the stern. Make sure your weight is kept slightly forward because you have the most balance and power in this position. Once vertical on the stern you have to switch edges again by lifting up on your trailing knee so your bow can fall back to the water.

Be ready with a back stroke to keep the move going

Step Five: Throw your bow down with a backstroke and repeat steps three and four until you puke.  

Tips for success:

- Keep your arms in tight and in front of your body to speed up your strokes and take advantage to your torso’s power
- Stay ahead of your boat by leading super aggressively with your head
- Pick a friendly pour over to learn in, pour over’s offer the most controlled cartwheels
- Practice flat water cartwheeling by looking at an object on shore and trying to see it again every time you turn your head. This will help keep your cartwheels in a straight line
- Keep your weight forward on your stern ends and neutral to slightly forward on your bow ends

 Kelsey Thompson (Photos by Bryan Kirk unless otherwise stated)