Freestyle Unlocked

Welcome to Kayaking Unlocked series. Here you can buy our books and will find additional free visual materials as extensions to them.

Freestyle Unlocked is the first book of the series. For this and more content buy your own copy of the book where you will find:

  • Self-guided training tools that will teach you how to plan your sessions
  • Insights on foundation skills
  • Break down for preparation, initiation, execution and landing photos crossed with 3b concept of blade, body and the boat
  • Most common mistakes and their solutions
  • Top tips to take your trick to the next level!

Loop

How to FLATWATER Loop

Learn to How to FLATWATER LOOP by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/n643TzMFlOs What is it? The first thing people will ask you when you say that you are doing a freestyle is whether you can Loop. Put simply, it is a front flip in a kayak which is one of the bigger breakthroughs and…
Back Blunt

How to Back Blunt

Learn to BACK BLUNT by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/jv47bozU-gg What is it? It is a Blunt done backward. Started at the back surf 180° horizontal angle rotation on green water at a vertical angle greater than 45°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the freestyler rotates around the tail of…
Back Deck Roll

How to Back Deck Roll

Learn to BACK DECK ROLL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/1cBDS5IxcbU What is it? The Back Deck Roll is an alternative version of the Eskimo Roll where paddler goes towards the tail and rolls under it to come back on opposite side of the boat bringing the blade from tail towards the bow. It…
Back Loop

How to Back Loop

Learn to BACK LOOP by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/lk4_gStM3BQ What is it? Back flip initiated and finished between a horizontal angle of – 20° and 20°, landing in the hole or the wave. Simply a Loop done backward yet easier said than done. Because it is harder to spot plug location while backwards…
Back Pan Am

How to Back Pan Am

Learn to BACK PAN AM by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/H5I2ZYiF98Q What is it? Back Pan Am is an elevated aerial rotation at a vertical angle greater than 90°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the freestyler rotates around the stern of the boat. This is an over-vertical back blunt where…
Back Roundhouse

How to Back Roundhouse

Learn to BACK ROUNDHOUSE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/z1IBedWpp-g What is it? Started at the back surf 180° horizontal angle rotation on green water at a vertical angle between 0° and 45°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the paddler rotates around the tail of the boat landing in a…
Blunt

How to Blunt

Learn to BLUNT by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/47sxZxUkyqA What is it? 180° horizontal angle rotation on green water at a vertical angle greater than 45°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the paddler blunt rotates around the bow of the boat, landing in a backward position. Blunt is a similar…
Bow Stall

How to Bow Stall

Learn how to BOW STALL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/-e862MytP20 What is it? Ability to hold your boat vertical for at least 3 seconds. It shows control, balance and is a very fun thing to do. Also it is prerequisite for flatwater loop and later on macho move. Step by Step Paddling forward…
Cartwheel

How to Cartwheel

Learn to CARTWHEEL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/V2t9uiZxg-U What is it? At least two consecutive ends in the same rotational direction with both ends at a vertical angle between 45° and 100°. One of the better recognized tricks in freestyle kayaking, when done one after another, really shows the true skill of the…
Catching the Wave

How to Catch the Wave

Learn to CATCH THE WAVE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/3AJ4dBwDTxs What is it? Ability to catch the feature to start surfing. There are two main ways of entering wave or hole. You either drop on it from upstream or ferry into it from the side. When dropping from the top, depending on the…
Elevator Technique

How to use Elevator Technique

Learn to ELEVATOR TECHNIQUE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/1NKaenHixwo What is it? ‘Elevator’ Technique is slow and easy way of getting to the top of the foam pile. It involves moving out to the greener part of the wave (getting on the elevator), waiting until you have slowed and risen to the top…
Entry McNasty

How to Entry McNasty

Learn to ENTRY MCNASTY by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/2n4eUzKhaIc What is it? Coming from a McNasty, we read a definition: At least 150° horizontal angle rotation or half a barrel roll flowing into a front loop or Space Godzilla. It is a way to use the whitewater to help you get on your…
Entry Roll

How to Entry Roll

Learn to ENTRY ROLL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/KTP75CNEbKY What is it? 360 roll done and stuck in a hole. It is the easiest kind of entry move you can do and once you get a good feeling for the timing, you can get it in easily. It usually gets scored as Entry…
Roll

How to Roll a kayak

Learn to ROLL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/NjQHZJ5AkDY What is it? It is the most common version of the Roll that allows you to roll your kayak upright after flipping upisde down just by yourself. It provides safety thanks to leaned forward position which keeps you protected through your helment and life jacket.…
Felix

How to Felix

Learn to FELIX by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/AAYLV_XpMUo What is it? Felix is a 360° spin with at least 180° of which the boat must be inverted. It is a very easy beginner move worth 40 points and you can do it at the Flat Water, hole or a wave! It is also…
Fisher King

How to Fisher King

Learn to FISHER KING by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/t37UfAkHxfo What is it? Fisher King is an elevated kickflip performed parallel to the seam line and stuck in a hole. Also called a ‘wingover’. If the boat is elevated around 45 degrees then it usually gets scored as Entry 2 in ICF competition. It…
Flip Turn

How to Flip Turn

Learn to FLIP TURN by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/6vem0Z0UNb4 What is it? Rotation of over 90° at a horizontal angle followed by a rotation with a vertical angle over 45° on the stern in one fluid motion all completed of one blade. The boat must be aerial at one point of the move.…
Helix

How to Helix

Learn to HELIX by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/wqQuNqzDOYY What is it? A 270º spin with at least 180° of which the boat must be inverted, aerial at some point. Once done fully aerial it is probably one of the most impressive moves to watch! Same as a flip turn, rhythm in Helix would…
Kickflip

How to Kickflip

Learn to KICKFLIP by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/gYRUwuZD6-Q What is it? Kickflip is a 360 barrel roll performed of the peak of the wave and thrown downstream direction. It is one of the most recognized downriver freestyle tricks which also correlates a lot with the air screw Step by Step Build your speed…
Loop

How to Loop

Learn to LOOP by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/Nsjvc68c_Y4 What is it? The first thing people will ask you when you say that you are doing a freestyle is whether you can Loop. Put simply, it is a front flip in a kayak which is one of the bigger breakthroughs and a dream point…
Lunar Orbit

How to Lunar Orbit

Learn to LUNAR ORBIT by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/wkHeN0AxjNM What is it? At least 180° horizontal angle rotation starting in front surf position and flowing into a back loop or back cartwheel. It is a reverse version of the Mc Nasty. However, Lunar Orbit one can be finished with an additional rotation end…
Macho Move

How to Macho Move

Learn to MACHO MOVE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/cmU_FhHuk6g What is it? Macho Move is a downstream Loop done from the peak of the wave performed on two peaks. It is a very impressive move that requires great balance on the bow but if timed well it will provide big air time between…
Mc Nasty

How to Mc Nasty

Learn to MC NASTY by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/0VxDW2RkbuQ What is it? At least 150° horizontal angle rotation or half a barrel roll flowing into a front loop or Space Godzilla. There are multiple ways to finish that trick. In this part, we will focus on hole style, and you will find a…
Pan Am

How to Pan Am

Learn to PAN AM by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/in4lEt5c5_o What is it? Pan Am is an elevated aerial rotation on green water at a vertical angle greater than 90°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the freestyler rotates around the bow of the boat. This is an oververtical blunt that…
Phonics Monkey

How to Phonics Monkey

Learn to PHONICS MONKEY by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/cmMvjxTEpHk What is it? Phonics Monkey is a pirouette initiated by a cross bow stroke in a front surf position and followed by a front loop in one fluid motion. While pirouette needs to be 330° horizontal angle rotation at a vertical angle greater than…
Pistol Flip

How to Pistol Flip

Learn to PISTOL FLIP by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/hfHvSiZFv34 What is it? At least 150° horizontal angle rotation or half a barrel roll flowing into a front loop. Pistol Flip is like an Mc Nasty but it is done differently on the wave than in the hole. It takes quite a bit of…
Rail Drive

How to Rail Drive

Learn to RAIL DRIVE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/4nru77aycVE What is it? Rail Drive is a way of taking off into the air by driving the rail into the water where the fast moving green water hits the hull of the boat and forces it up out the water. This is a foundation…
Roundhouse

How to Roundhouse

Learn to ROUNDHOUSE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/rBSz1o3xOvE What is it? 180° horizontal angle rotation on the green water at a vertical angle between 0° and 45°, clear of the foam pile at some point, where the paddler rotates around the bow of the boat landing in a backward position. It is first…
Shuvit

How to Shuvit

Learn to SHUVIT by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/3Efnq_N1SmI What is it? A Shuvit is 2 consecutive 180° horizontal angle rotations of the boat at a vertical angle between 0° and 45°. Beginning in the front surf position to the back surf position, then returning to the front surf position without a pause. The…
Space Godzilla

How to Space Godzilla

Learn to SPACE GODZILLA by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/2kLTD_lw-K8 What is it? An aerial loop with a 90º or greater rotation (twist) in the middle of the flip. Some of the most beautiful hole boating pictures are taken from kayakers doing Space Godzilla. It is also a newschool linking trick as you can…
Spin

How to Spin

Learn to SPIN by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/GL6LepejvKo What is it? A Spin is at least a 360° horizontal angle rotation of the boat at an angle between 0° and 45° vertical angle. Spinning will come in handy when paddling in the current and changing direction that you want to go, through spinning…
Splitwheel

How to Splitwheel

Learn to SPLITWHEEL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/s-KXkH7NLMs What is it? In ICF rules, we read, “Two consecutive ends at a vertical angle of between 45° and 100° linked together by at least a 160° horizontal rotation near the vertical point of the first end on the long axis.” In other words –…

How to Sweep Roll

Learn to SWEEP ROLL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/Hvl7PB5x_Og What is it? It is an alternative version of the roll where instead of getting up with the blade at a perpendicular spot, you keep sweeping it to the tail and bringing the hips up all the way from starting the sweep till its…
Tricky Woo

How to Tricky Woo

Learn to TRICKY WOO by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/OsbbWvhhQd4 What is it? 3 consecutive 180° horizontal angle rotations. It begins with a splitwheel followed by a rotation on the stern at a vertical angle over 60° in the same direction as the first rotation of the splitwheel. The third end must be above…
Wave Wheel

How to Wave Wheel

Learn to hold a WAVE WHEEL by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/ApzkmBPlICs What is it? Wave Wheel is a half cartwheel performed downstream over the peak of the wave. Step by Step Build your speed paddling towards the peak point with a speed higher than the water.Once climbing the wave, initiate the double pump.…
Hold a Basic Position

How to hold a Basic Position

Learn to hold a BASIC POSITION by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/c1s3IEoSv4g What is it? One of the critical elements in kayaking is your body position and posture. Your spine is the key that allows you to transmit force from your upper body to your lower body and vice versa. You are aiming for…
Control Your Edging

How to control Your Edging

Learn to control YOUR EDGING by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/bWgpozKctUw What is it? Edging is the ability to put your boat on edge while holding your centre of gravity over the boat’s centre. In moving water, it allows the water to pass under the boat easier and not catch on the rail or…
Rudder

How to Power Stroke

Learn to POWER STROKE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/pANodvxI_CU What is it? The Power Stroke is a basic stroke used to move forward, which gives you the most acceleration. The catch phase is reaching to put the blade in by your feet. The pull phase starts by pushing on the top hand and…
Rudder

How to Rudder

Learn to RUDDER by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/yo6UUsbt-qQ What is it? The Rudder is a technique when you leave your blade near the tail and “pull or push the water” with active and passive side. It can be used to go straight, break in and out from the eddy, or even control the…
Sweep Stroke

How to Sweep Stroke

Learn to SWEEP STROKE by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/mmLXeCyA2HU What is it? The Sweep Stroke is the second fundamental stroke and is used to turn your boat. It is a very useful correction stroke when paddling straight and is a faster way to change your direction when the boat is stationary Step by…
Woo Tricky

How to Woo Tricky

Learn to WOO TRICKY by doing exercises in the video! https://youtu.be/oALJt6RRIbo What is it? Woo Tricky is three consecutive ends. It begins with a back Split Wheel followed by a rotation on the bow at a vertical angle over 60° in the same direction as the first rotation of the splitwheel. It is a reverse…
T-rescue

How to T-Rescue

Learn to T-RESCUE by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rl8K6Q8eK8 What is it? The first step to being able to get back upright is learning the T-rescue. The T-rescue is a way of righting yourself using another kayak (*or an obstacle!) by putting your hands on it for support and using your knees to flick…
Air Screw

How to Air Screw

Learn to AIR SCREW by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl7qiQMmxZ8 What is it? Air Screw is a 360° rotation around the longitudinal axis of the boat, starting and ending in a front surf position, where the boat is aerial for at least 180° of the move, initiated and finished between a horizontal angle of…
Front Surfing

How to Surf On The Wave

Learn to SURF ON THE WAVE by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7RozYliMHg What is it? Surfin The Wave is one of the first things to be mastered and understood to get pure joy from controlling your boat is simply… surfing. Using even the smallest Features on the river will help you to develop this…

How to Set Up in The Hole

Learn to SET UP IN THE HOLE by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKaenHixwo What is it? Setting Up In The Hole at the back of the foam pile to set up for a trick is one of the most important skills to master. All tricks require a specific set up. A good example is…
Lean Clean

How to Lean Clean

Learn to Lean Clean by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWol9LIWECY What is it? Lean Clean is a spinning technique that makes you spin around on Flat Water by digging in your ends without using your paddle. This technique will help you strengthen your core muscles and introduce you to the concept of elevated ends,…
Tailee

How to Tailie

Learn to TAILIE by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V9CSu5wur8 What is it? Tailie is one end done on the tail at an angle of minimum 70 degrees. This is one of the most fun and versatile freestyle moves, as it can be done on the river in any kind of low stern volume boat.…
Stern Stall

How to Stern Stall

Learn to STERN STALL by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V9CSu5wur8 What is it? Stern Stall is a vertical end at the angle minimum of 70 degrees held for at least 3 seconds. It is a more advanced move than Tailee however, after mastering it, learning the stall will be easier. Step by Step Make…
water kayaking

How to Tricky/Lunar/Back Loop

What is it? In ICF rules we read “Two consecutive ends at a vertical angle of between 45° and 100° linked together by at least a 160° horizontal rotation near the vertical point of the first end on the long axis.” In other words – it is a shuvit with vertical ends! This is also…

How to Double Pump

Learn to DOUBLE PUMP by doing exercises in the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWol9LIWECY What is it? Double Pump is a technique that allows you to submerge your bow under the water, starting a vertical end. This is a foundation trick for all wheeling based tricks done either in the Feature, downriver or for entry moves. Step by…

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