Cannonballing 101: How to get the biggest splash

Especially as we spring towards summer, thoughts of young people (or those young at heart) turn to how to maximize one’s summer excitement. At our Midwest summer camp, we appreciate that much of that excitement comes from good times in the pool!

Everybody knows the feeling that comes from seeing an incredible cannonball, the shock, excitement and awe that follow when you witness the biggest splash of the summer. Now imagine you’re the person who was responsible for the greatest splash of the summer…

So, how do you create the perfect cannonball? 

First let’s talk safety. Make sure you are a confident swimmer before attempting any of the instructions described below. At Kupugani, only attempt to cannonball if: 

(1)  You have a blue band (signifying that you successfully completed a swim evaluation); 

(2) You’re jumping straight off the diving board (i.e. in the deep end of the pool…at any other pool, make sure the pool is deep enough.) 

(3) You’re not running. One should walk only on pool decks. While you might think a running start could help with creating the greatest cannonball ever, you’re much more likely to slip and ruin your jump before it even happens. 

Now that we’ve covered how to be safe when cannonballing, here’s how to create a super epic cannonball. 

Step #1: Start from a standing position, either at the end of the diving board, with your toes just over the edge.

Step #2: Get some height on your jump. Jump as high as you can while pushing yourself away from the board.

Step #3: Pull yourself into a ball, but stay loose. Keep your knees slightly apart and your elbows out as your arms wrap around your legs. The more space you take up, the more water you’ll displace and the bigger the splash you will make. However, this doesn’t mean spread out and either belly flop or land on your back; that will cause a big splash, but it will also cause a lot of pain.

Step #4: Prepare for landing! 

Step #5: Check the bystanders (perhaps Kevin?) to see if your epic cannonball created a splash to get them wet even outside the pool fence!

Step #6: Celebrate an epic cannonball.

Step #7: Repeat as necessary!