Boofing Tips?

craig · Post by **craig** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:53 pm

More times than not when I boof over a ledge, hole, rock etc; the boat turns to my off side. Is there such thing as a J stroke for boofing? Or what can I do better to keep it straighter? I have no problems keeping my boat (s) on track otherwise

busterblue · Post by **busterblue** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:06 pm

How do you feel about your timing? I think this could happen if you're taking the stroke too early. Do you land pretty flat?

Even with perfect timing, it makes sense that the boat would turn more than usual to your offside, because the bow is in the air while the stern is in the water. I think you just have to compensate for this by having an angle that is more toward your onside before taking the boof stroke.

Smurfwarrior · Post by **Smurfwarrior** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:15 pm

Try to keep your tgrip hand over the water and as vertical as possible. Execute a strong forward stroke and try not to turn the boof stroke into a draw stroke.

cheajack · Post by **cheajack** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:28 pm

Stop the boof stroke at your hip and don't lean back. Instead "crunch" your knees up toward your chest.

TNbound · Post by **TNbound** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:06 pm

Like Smurf said, keep your paddle as vertical as possible. Also, try to keep the paddle blade in close to the boat. If it gets too far away, your boof turns into a sweep and you'll end up sideways.

Another thing that can help is the angle you approach the lip at. If you find you're landing pointing slightly to your offside, approach the boof angled slightly to your onside. That way, your boof will turn you, but you'll be facing the appropriate direction.

Boof on!

yarnellboat · Post by **yarnellboat** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:48 pm

If you've read "Thrill of the Paddle" they refer to 'paddling against an arc' (which I'm sure would have lots of search results on cboats too) - basically what people have said about aiming to your onside...

But it's more than just where the bow is pointed: approaching the boof you want to have your hull engaged in a carve to onside, so that you've got forces to paddle against. Then, when you're right on the boof (or anywhere that you foresee the need for some straight-on power strokes), your power strokes and flattend tilt will break you out of that carve to land straight. This takes some set up above the boof, "a boof stroke' is often more than just 1 stroke at the lip.

Or something like that. I'm just a class II/III hack who seldom paddles and doesn't boof anything, so don't believe everything you read on the Internet!

Pat.

driftwood · Post by **driftwood** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:04 pm

I agree with the paddling against the arc bit-- generally developing cross current momentum before the lip is good.

When that is not possible I boof as late as possible and actually reach under the boat to execute a modern c stroke as I boof. mostly just the second half of the stroke though, not much of a draw to lead in.

Also- cross bow boof
I spent all season working on mine.

John

xmas0c1c1k1 · Post by **xmas0c1c1k1** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:53 pm

There are so many different boofs its hard to say what works and what doesn't
My first suggestion would be to have a little more onside angle so that your boof just straightens you out. Sweep boofs are quite effective as well just have even more angle as you approach the lip and use a sweep stroke to lift your bow and straighten up
although its kayaks this is a great video about boofs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No1-IHON66I

And yes there is such thing as a J stroke boof as long as your paddle is in the water you stay connected to the water even while vertical so steering is possible

markzak · Post by **markzak** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:54 am

rock boofs or water boofs?

No, just kidding...all good advice here. I personally would like to emphasize the need to keep the paddle vertical through the stoke, keep you weight over your paddler, spot your landing before you take the boof stroke and keep your eyes on your landing spot the whole way, reach very far forward, and stop the stroke at your knees (not even your hips). But all good advice and each situation will be different and will require variation. Paddling fast but in control up to the lip helps a lot, speed is always your friend.

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:40 am

markzak- you mean to say rock boofs or real boofs

agreed, that every boof is diffferent.
But if you are turning the boat every time, then you may need to do what everyone said; adjust your angle (pre-correct), or do a cross bow boof (the funnest option), or perfect the stroke (boring), or all of the above.
I wish i could say i never land boofs sideways.

marclamenace · Post by **marclamenace** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:45 pm

cheajack wrote:Stop the boof stroke at your hip and don't lean back. Instead "crunch" your knees up toward your chest.

A lot of goof advices up here, but this one might just be the best for your specific question (how to boof and not turn the boat)

I just recently realized myself how much of that is true and how much of the first part of the boof stoke is, in fact, all you need to boof, the rest being optional and to adjust to every situation.

The "plant" phase is what counts the most IMO. Speed and timing, sure will help you a whole lot clearing up that whole, but you can still trow the bow up in just any occasion with a well done boof stoke. As a matter of fact you can practice them boof strokes in flatwater to get the dynamics of the stroke.

You have to push DOWN with the paddle when planting it, using also you body weight that you throw on the side of the boat, which gives you physical power to lift your knees (abs on the work) and lift the bow. THAT'S IT. Job done. All the rest of the motion, which then transforms into a forward stroke (and might turn your boat if not perfectly executed) is optional.

In my playboat C1 I can, from a stop, sink the stern and lift up the bow completely vertical by throwing just that very stroke and swing my weight back.

But enough bla blah, let's throw in a lil video to keep y'all boof enthousiast entertained.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxg-qG0lj5k

(Oh and nevermind the repeated flips and weird low head position after the jump, where that friggin whistle leash o'mine found its way to wrap around my chin gard locking my head down... That won't happen again I can tell ya!

)

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:27 am

marclamenace wrote:... A lot of goof advices up here, but this one might just be the best for your specific question (how to boof and not turn the boat)

I just recently realized myself how much of that is true and how much of the first part of the boof stoke is ...

Sounds as if you're timing the last stroke well, and have ample enough speed.

SO I'll ask if you're throwing your body off the drop as well? If not (?) - As you stroke and pull on that final stroke, try getting body back of center ( a little back lean) as you are getting to the edge.... and then as you're finishing the stroke and at the edge, try throwing your body forward - as if sitting back upright. I find (if wanting max distance) that sitting neutral upon launch is best. Weight transfer can be really key, and can also used to turn or affect a different landing, as boat will tend to go in the direction of the throw.

Was actually throwing weight up and out in this one, just be careful to not land too flat.

Larry Horne · Post by **Larry Horne** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:37 am

all this textbook talk is good i guess, but i think the real world boof is more fluid and seldom textbook (at least my boofs are never textbook)

i always liked this clip. wish i knew where the standard speed video was...
http://vimeo.com/3111091

Post by **PAC** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:32 pm

I agree a lot of good stuff here….

What works for me is (generally speaking):
o Reach forward for that last stroke bringing the shoulders forward and along with the knees (body in a "C" shape - if that makes any sense).
o Hip rotation stopping on that last stroke once the paddle is close to being in line with the upper body. Hopefully having hips timed to be close to the lip of the drop. Giving you a better chance to crunch the knees up, while being in a better position to get forward for stomping the landing (hopefully landing with the body in a "C" again to suck up the energy).
o Having the upper body chest squared off to where I want to go and to be looking there (one’s body tends to follow the eyes were being square adds to better balance in flight and on landing).
o Try to make sure the paddle blade is traveling a parallel path along the boat and not along its side surface, or at least perpendicular to where you want to go (blade back facing where the eyes are looking).
o Have some speed (not too much) so you are in control not the water flowing over the drop.

This is just general since each situation is different and requires tweaking as you're going forward... Plus this is me and I don't do really big drops since I'm a weenie....and like my back.

Side suggestion - boof everything you can on lower classes so you can develop a feel for it and to build up the "memory" of what works for you.

My $.01 - have fun and boof it out!

marclamenace · Post by **marclamenace** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:51 pm

@ philcanoe: very good point about weight transfer.

Agreed that the boof will work much better if your body is neutral or slightly back in the boat, and to lift the bow agressively (if you want to) you need to trow yourself on the side (towards paddle side) to use that weight shift for pushing down on the paddle and up with the knees.

So if you want to throw a real short boof stroke that won't turn your boat too much then you need to start it from neutral and you're good.

Larry, that vid rocks! The other C1 golden strokes offside boofs somewhere in there are awesome too.