Cover Photo credit: Matthew Centofanti

How to Space Godzilla

The Space Godzilla trick is one of my favorite freestyle kayak tricks to throw in a feature because it allows you to get maximum air like a huge loop but your boat does a neat twisting motion like a cartwheel. The space godzilla is the next trick in progression from a loop. The ICF defines a space godzilla as an aerial loop with an additional 90º or greater rotation (twist) in the middle of the flip: basically a front loop with a twist. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Initiate Loop

Set up on the foam pile, stomp your feet down hard to initiate the bow to get as much air as possible to have more time in the air for the twist. It is important to keep your boat straight during this process by having a tight core and shoulders square to the feature.

Step 2: Hands and Head Position.

As your boat and hands are rising punch your left hand up and across your chest. You want to make sure your hand goes all the way across your body and doesn’t stop at your midline. If you do this correctly you boat should begin to twist/rotate.

Step 3. Tuck-to-Unwind Transition and Foot Drive.

When you transition from the tuck to unwind, push your feet away from you and kick your heels out to land the stern and flatten out your boat to straight. It is important to keep pushing through your feet and driving them away from you.

Step 4: Loop Stroke.

As you are unwinding and pushing your feet away from you, use your loop stroke to help force your boat around to land the trick. The loop stroke will also help keep your landing straight.

Timing is key with this trick. You want to make sure you are letting your boat rise out of the water so you are twisting in the air. Once you figure out the timing with this trick, you can get really big air and great boat rotation. The space godzilla is a super fun trick to learn to add variety to your bag of tricks and is also a great addition for combo tricks. One of my favorite combos is the space godzilla into a loop combination. Hope this helps you get your space godzilla’s.
Check out the example below:

Catch you on the river!

Emily