A stern stall is a kayaking "trick" that's similar to the difficult and sometimes risky moves performed by skateboarders---it is a show maneuver, done for fun. In a stern stall, the kayaker points the bow or nose of the boat vertically in the air, putting the kayak in a perpendicular position to the water, with the bottom half of boat in the water and the top half out. The kayaker remains above the water, looking as if she is resting on the water.
Step 1
Start paddling backwards. This will cause a movement which can be used as a counterforce to quickly "jerk" the boat in the opposite direction, providing more speed and force to propel the boat out of the water. This is similar to the reactive power used in other sport movements (for example, a basketball player bending his knees prior to jumping up).
Step 2
Stop paddling and shift your weight to one side of the kayak by leaning to one side with your upper body, or shifting one knee up while shifting the other knee down.
Step 3
Paddle forward. As the boat begins to tip with your weight shift, make a powerful forward stroke and propel the nose of the kayak forward (into the air). As you do this, shift your weight to the rear of the boat, centering your weight in the middle of the kayak.
Step 4
Lean forward. While it does not seem logical, leaning forward (toward the bow) will keep the nose of the kayak in the air. This happens because the forward movement causes your body to jackknife and move your legs toward your head, pushing the bow of the boat (which contains your legs) out of the water, toward you. Leaning backward will flatten the boat out and return you to a normal position.
Step 5
Put your arms straight above your head. To maintain your nose-skyward position, put your arms straight up. In your perpendicular position, your arms will now be parallel to the water. This will allow you to counteract any pull to the port or stern your boat may experience.
Things You'll Need
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Life vest
- Helmet
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