Tim Truesdell's Tips on the Airscrew

The airscrew is an extremely dynamic trick that involves a 360 degree rotation around an axis in the air, essentially you are doing a complete aerial roll.  Like every trick the airscrew begins with a hard edge to edge transfer which allows the water to reject the boat and send it into the air.  Where the airscrew differs from a lot of the more basic tricks is the start of the rotation.  In order to not land on your face, you have to be leading ahead of the rotation of the boat, twisting and storing the spin momentum like a rubber band.  When the "rubber band unwinds" the boat follows it.   Every person has a different style of landing an airscrew.  The majority of new school boaters have realized that a stroke in between landing can help increase your chances of sticking a snappier, prettier airscrew by allowing you to pull the boat flat and remain on the surface of the wave.  Many people experience the same problem of their boat landing sideways or "panaming."  Like an olympic diver, you and your boat will rotate faster when everything is tucked in.  When one's arms are spread, not only do they catch water, but they also prevent the boat from spinning around an axis, the most efficient way to turn.  The airscrew, though seeming complex is a great trick that opens the doors to a variety of harder tricks.  With a bit of practice and a few "epic fails," face flops, and injured pride you too can airscrew.  The airscrew does not favor people, but the time they put in.