The Splitwheel
The split wheel is a two ended cartwheel where the paddler rotates their boat 90 degrees between the two ends in order to cartwheel in the opposite direction. Like all vertical moves, practicing the Split wheel in flat-water will greatly increase your understanding of the move and boost your learning curve.
Step One: Set up high on the foam pile and initiate you bow just as you would for a regular cartwheel.
Initiate as you would for a regular Cartwheel
Step Two: Once your bow is initiated, keep pushing on your initiation stroke and stand up on your foot block. Pushing your stroke to your toes while standing up on your foot block will effectively rotate your boat. Note that your eyes should stay upstream during this move.
Stand up on your foot block and sweep to you toes to pivot your boat.
Step Three: Once you have rotated your boat the full 90 degrees turn your back stroke into a forward stroke and initiate your stern. As your stern initiates your weight should be in a slightly forward position. Keeping your arms tight at this stage will ensure that you have enough power to initiate your stern as you often loose a lot of your momentum while pivoting your boat.
Turn your backstroke into a forward stroke and initiate your stern.
Step Four: Once your boat reaches vertical lift up with your trailing knee to drop you leading edge so your bow can fall down to the water. Start reaching for your next stroke which will initiate your bow.
Switch edges and prepare to Cartwheel in the opposite direction.
Step Five: Continue Cartwheeling in the opposite direction.
Kelsey Thompson