Freefall Fundamentals: Taster Lesson - The Lip

When descending a waterfall or drop, there is one moment that matters more than any other: the lip.

The way you interact with the lip determines your boat angle, your line, and ultimately whether your descent is controlled and safe. Once you’re in free fall, there’s very little you can change, the outcome is largely decided by how you came over the edge.

When scouting a drop, it’s helpful to categorise the lip you’re dealing with. While no waterfall fits perfectly into one category, breaking lips down into three broad types gives you a powerful framework for decision-making.

Vertical lips are abrupt, often close to 90 degrees. Here, control comes primarily from body position, edge control, and blade work. There’s little help from the water itself, so precision and timing are key.

Sloping lips transition more gradually from flat water to free fall. This gives you time to set your kayak angle and allows the water to assist you. Generally, these are more forgiving than vertical lips and offer greater opportunity to fine-tune your setup.

Kicker lips occur where water drops and then reacts off a rock or feature, pushing the bow upwards. These require more deliberate interaction to create the angle you need, as the water can significantly influence your boat, for better or worse.

In reality, lips are rarely black and white. You might find a sloping lip that becomes vertical at the end, or a kicker on one side of the drop. Some waterfalls even present multiple lip types depending on the line you choose.

Understanding these differences is crucial when deciding whether to boof or plug a drop. Each lip type demands a slightly different approach, and recognising this during your scout allows you to plan your line and technique with intention.