A freewheel is basically a variation of a cartwheel – the biggest additional ingredient to the move is the waterfall!

Sweep the bow up as you approach the lip of the fall – as you would for a flatwater cartwheel, and right as you go over the edge, throw the bow down like you’re in a hole. If you just want a 180 and land stern first, you can simply spot your landing now. If you want to 360 the drop, look over the opposite shoulder, and with the other blade, reach into the falls and sweep the stern under.

Guaranteed to impress every time, although they take a whole lot of good judgment, correct fall selection and timing to pull off safely. You’ve been warned getting any of the ingredients wrong will at the least hurt and at the worst kill.

Photos: P Higgins
Paddler: B Anderson