Steve has been more than helpful. He offered some advice and sent me this article even though he's a busy man at the moment.
Below is the article and a couple of pic's he included.
Howzit Brendan.
here's the article I promised you.
I'd actually forgotten to reply to you but I'm busy plugging content
into the new framework for my website and in digging through all
kinds of old articles I found this one that I wrote in September
2002. Pretty classic really. Hard to believe how time flies!
enjoy. Good one
Steve
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New Move - The Helix
In 1999 a bid to hold the 2001 world freestyle championships on rapid 12b - Zambezi, was turned down after competing countries voted in favor of Spain. I therefore found it quite ironic that it was on this very wave, on the day that the competition would have started (4th October), that I pulled my first 'helix'...that would have had the judges scratching their heads!
The move is basically an upside-down spin where the boat does a 360 rotation on two of it's three axis. If you can do a good aerial flip turn, then you can probably do this move. Really, all it requires is a good boat, a good wave and a lot of commitment. It’s more difficult mentally than physically – the hardest part is figuring it out in your head.
People often mistake a good flip turn for a bad helix ( I call that a Fleelix.). I’ve watched a lot of guys initiate perfectly but not follow through and finish the move. The key definition here is that the boat needs to rotate all the way around and end flat, upright and pointing upstream after the 360. The stern of your boat must not touch the water as it comes around on the upstream side – otherwise it catches and your bow comes over your head vertically, ending pointing upstream – that’s a radical flipturn. The key to getting this right is that, whilst you’re completely upside down, you need to lift your initiating hand out of the water and aggressively grab the water with your other hand – this will finish the horizontal rotation of the boat and roll you back upright. Easy huh?
The most common question that I experience is: “How did you think this move up?”
Well, just like many of the other moves we’ve invented, it’s a natural progression of existing moves as we improve our skills and boat designs. I started to do flipturns that rotated the stern all the way upstream and realized that if I could put in another paddle stroke whilst upside down in the air, I would be able to rotate the boat 360 degrees on two axis.
I was hanging out in the bar with some mates in Zambia, using a coaster to figure out the move, when I finally got my head around the idea. The response was; “Whatever dood! There goes Fisher with his ideas again.”
I hardly slept that night and was up first thing in the morning and paddled down to 12B. I dropped onto the wave and stuck the move first try.
HERE IS A DISCRIPTION OF HOW TO DO THE MOVE - JUST IN CASE!
I guess the best way to describe what the helix is and how to do it, would be to compare it to the aerial flip turn, since it is an extension of the flip turn. Therefore if you can do a good, radical flip turn, you should be able to do the helix. Here is a step by step instruction of the flip turn and a comparison of the two.First - the Aerial Flip Turn
One of my favorite moves as well as one of the most dynamic and aggressive moves I know, is the aerial flip turn. You will need a fairly large, fast wave and a kayak of a very radical and aggressive design - a boat with a hard carving edge and/or fins. This ensures that the kayak will hold and grab as much water as possible whilst carving, so that by the time it releases it is ready to explode out of the water.
The goal of the move is to over edge a carve or turn so that the boat becomes airborne as a result of the force between the hull and the fast green water from upstream.
Step one:
Start in a neutral position as close to the top of the wave as possible. As you feel the boat surge down the face of the wave as maximum speed, use a stern rudder to start turning the boat and start a spin momentum. A slight bounce of the boat at this point can help.
Step two:
One your boat is almost sideways use an aggressive 'hip flick' to over edge the boat in the turn - leaning it down stream. The water would naturally want to push the boat downstream, but because of forward speed you have gained, the only option is up. Lift your paddle out of the water and enjoy 'take off'.
Step three:
At this point if you do nothing you will crash... and burn - either your boat will land bow first or you will land upside down. By putting in a forward sweep with the same hand that you initiated the move with, your bow will be pushed up and your stern will hit the water first. The more air you have and the later your sweep, the more the stern will rotate around and the more radical the move will be. (* This is the turning point between a flip turn and a helix)
Step four:
Your stern has hit the water, and you should help the bow to come down by thrusting your legs forward and your body onto the back deck. Add in some forward strokes, as soon as possible, to help regain your forward speed and bring your body upright.
This move will require every ounce of your energy and commitment. It is not as technically difficult as it looks but be sure to have an aching body after a day of flip turns.
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Helix Vs Flip Turn
*At step three, in the flip turn is where the change occurs. In This example, instead of planting a sweep with the right hand (which would smash the stern into the water), an aggressive switch to the left hand and a twist of the body causes the boat to continue rotating on a horizontal plane. As the boat comes around on a full 360 degree rotation you plant the left paddle blade and start to rotate the boat back upright. So the boat has now done a 360 degree rotation on two axis.
flip turn: right blade is in the water smashing the stern. Helix: both blades are out the water allowing the boat to continue horizontal rotation
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All I can say is thanks again Steve.
Check out Steve's website http://www.stevefisher.net/
On the progress front I have moved from practicing them on the flat to trying a few Feelix's at Stackallen, which to even my surprise where successful.
Unfortunately I knackered my video camera last week. Colm Patison and I where taking advantage of the recent downpour running the drops and slides on the Shankhill. I was recording Colm's run and I got it wet and then dropped it for good measure.
Ok guys and gals get out there Helix'n
Bren
