How to Double Pump a Kayak

The sport of freestyle kayaking involves many maneuvers to control your kayak under certain conditions. A lot of times, especially in the fast-paced environment of whitewater kayaking, you will need to perform extreme moves very quickly to change direction or avoid obstacles. One such move is called double pumping, or a bow initiation stroke. It involves plunging the bow of your kayak straight down into the water to temporarily achieve a vertical stance before coming back to horizontal and facing the opposite direction.

Things You'll Need

  • Kayak
  • Double-paddle oar
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Instructions

    • 1

      Paddle toward the destination at which you want to perform the bow initiation stroke.

    • 2

      Paddle with a forward stroke on the right side while leaning right and lifting the left edge of the kayak away from the water.

    • 3

      Use your knees and your hips to raise the bow of the kayak into the air during the last stroke.

    • 4

      Pivot your shoulders to the right and change the forward stroke into a reverse stroke. Use your knees and hips and the energy of the falling bow to drive the bow down into the water and lift the stern of the kayak out of the water to a vertical position.

    • 5

      Steady your movement with the oar as you follow through the maneuver and the bow returns to the surface.