How to do Stern Initiations on a Kayak

Video Transcript

"Stern initiations are often easier than bow initiations because I don't have to sink the volume of my knees under water. What I'm really trying to do is stick the stern end straight into the water. They work the same way as bow initiations. In flat water I will start off paddling backwards building up some speed. Take on back stroke which will stick the bow under then a big stern pivot stroke which pulls the bow up into the air and rotates just past me. The stern pivot stroke is key, again look over your top shoulder, wind yourself up, and then pull the bow up and past you. So when I do this with backwards paddling I just get the added benefit of mobility in a river if I'm on top the foam I'm using that current to help me out with the spin as well, it's just more of a stern pivot in that case. Staying on edge and bobbing those ends really allows you to use the most buoyancy of your boat to add energy to bring it up vertical."