This page (will) contain(s) all other things cartwheel related.


What is the difference between flatwheel and cartwheel?
Basically nothing. A flatwheel is just a cartwheel done on flat water. It is not a flat cartwheel, this is a beardy manover know as 'turning the boat using a combination of foward and reverse sweep strokes' and is not quite so fun. That said practice of rapid foward and reverse sweep strokes (if possible starting on the wrong side of the boat, requires short boat) are a good practice for the body rotation in cartwheels and can be part of a warm up (this is not something canoeists understand so don't worry!)


Something for the experts to try...

Switches (flatwater splitwheels)

Once you've wired the flatwheel sufficently, this shouldn't be too hard. The basic idea is to reverse direction during a flatwheel sequence. Now, this isn't too hard off the bow - it's just an extension of the oscillation excercise. The idea is to show your mastery of the smash by reversing directions with the boat on the stern. Start practising stern stalls - when the boat goes up on end, don't look for the next end, instead look up at the bow in order to stall the rotation. You'll probably go over backwards, but try and hold it with the odd support stroke for as long as you can. To do the move itself, do the usual stuff to get vertical on the stern. You will now have the boat vertical, with (say) left hand paddle on the surface, looking to the right. Now, look back left where you'll want the bow to land, and bring the paddle vertical, so the working blade goes from being flat on the water to vertical in the water. The boat will start to fall to the left, and you just carry on with a smash on the left hand side... Note - splitwheels in holes are a little more tricky - I'll post something when I figure it out (could be a while....)


Practicing flatwheels is a wet ocupation and nearly every atempt will result in a capsize and roll. But if you can make it happen like this then that will be very impressive. Animated Capsize .

These are also on the animations page but are amusing examples of things going wrong

Insuficient edge


Too much edge



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