I stated in my last post that I would explain what a boof is to the non-whitewater world. This is not an easy thing to master or explain....trust me from someone who has taught kayaking. A few weeks back I wrote an explanation in my journal that I thought out while sitting on the rock next to Conception, the #1 boof on the James. ('Top Five Middle Line Boofs' coming in a later post). Here is the explanation. I would love to hear feedback, both positive and negative from kayakers who are willing to analyze my description and add to what I have said, because stomping your boof really is the most bad ass move in kayaking.......unless your 20 something running 80 foot waterfalls. That is much more bad ass....just not normal. Here it is; "HOW TO BOOF"..........enjoy!
April 13th ~ Journal Entry ~ Day 12
"Boof late"........Tommy Hilleke
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| Boofing in Nelson County, the greatest whitewater in the world! |
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| 'Boofing on the Narrows' |
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| Boofing at Great Falls, a place where a boof isn't just fun, it's mandatory for survival. Remember, stay forward! |
"Conception has a beautiful five foot boof off a picture perfect launch pad on the left side of the ledge. You line up for the rapid by looking for a small curling wave at the top of the ledge, breaking from left to right. Then, starting in an eddy on river right, paddle with speed at a forty five degree angle towards the top of the curler. As you reach the curler, the river pulls hard back to the right on a tongue of water that falls over the ledge into a deep hole. Your speed and momentum allow you to keep driving left, over the tongue and towards the launch pad. As your bow hits the launch pad (a
small rock outcropping sticking slightly up and out, away from the ledge, like a miniature ramp) pull a strong right handed boof stroke, airing out your bow over the launch pad. As your bow clears the ledge, do a giant sit up, leaning forward hard, and pulling your knees and thighs to your chest. This act will lift your bow up as it goes airborne. Your speed and momentum then allow the rest of the boat to follow, making your bow clear the ledge at a flat, horizontal angle to the water below. As your boat lands flat against the water, the sound your hull makes as it hits the water is "BOOF!", hence the reason for the naming of the move. It is always important to land with a slight forward angle so that your boat planes away from the hole, as opposed to stopping in it, or worse yet, backendering into the hole. Stomping your boof is the practice of slamming your bow down hard. This takes some practice, and lots of experience, but stomping out a boof is the most bad ass move in kayaking, aside from running 80 foot waterfalls of course.. On a side note, don't ever boof drops over twenty feet, unless you want your spine and rib cage to become an accordion. The boof stroke is the key to the move. You must stay forward in your boat, and be sure not to pull the stroke too early. Pulling your boof stroke to early kills your speed and momentum, and your bow falls over the ledge and into the hole. My favorite pro boater, Tommy Hilleke, was once asked if he could give one piece of advice to aspiring creek boaters, what would it be?...His response was simple......."boof late."
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| Boofng in my front yard on the James |
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| Me, boofing Valley Falls in West 'By God' Virginia. (I love this pic.....but not the photographer. Never loved her.) |
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| Kyle Irby stomping out a boof on Pummel at Great Falls. |
And that is how to boof!.....at least in my mind. I would love to hear some feedback from boaters on this one, and please feel free to add anything I have forgotten in the comments box.......I am sure there will be tons! The paddling community loves me. :) PEACE!
