In order to effectively paddle your boat, you need get acquainted with your paddle. For information on how to pick the right paddle, click here. Otherwise, here are the three parts of the stroke we will cover in this article.
- Catch – the start of the stroke
- Power – how to create movement with your body and paddle
- Recovery – how to remove the paddle and initiate the next stroke
Before You Paddle
Remember that whether you are on the water for hours or only a few minutes, safety and comfort are paramount. You need to have a efficient and relaxed approach to paddling that will maximize your power and minimize your fatigue and potential for injury. How you sit, body position and how you hold your paddle all affect your experience.
Body Position
You need to have an upright posture with approximately 5-8° of forward lean from the waist. You will also need to keep a straight back while relaxing your head, shoulders and neck. Your legs should have a slight bend so as to not cause circulation to cease. Remember that if you lean back to far, you loose range of motion, but if you are too far forward, you also restrict movement and breathing capacity.
Holding the Paddle
First look at your paddle blades. For novice paddlers, we at the RIVER RANGERS™ strongly recommend that you begin with matched blades and not feathered. Also check to see if the blades are symmetrical, many paddles these days are not. Either is fine, but you need to know which you have. Are the blades curved? Typically paddle blades are curved, so make sure you identify them first.
Start by making right angles (90°) at your elbows and grip the paddle in both hands with knuckles pointed up and the paddle blades perpendicular to the surface of the water. For asymmetrical blades, the shorter side should be down and if the blades are curved, the concave portion should face you.
Moving Forward
Before we discuss specifics, remember that paddling comes from your core strength, not your arms or shoulders. To begin the catch, wind the body so that your body faces the opposite side of where the paddle will enter the water. Put your paddle as far forward as comfortably able and at a steep angle. Your forward arm should be straight and your back arm bent at 90°.
Power comes from unwinding of the body as you pull the paddle past the boat. It is often best to think of of the power portion of the stroke as pulling the boat past the paddle as though it was stuck. Power transfers into the boat as your body and feet push the boat forward past the paddle.
The recovery comes when the stroke is finished and body has completed its rotation. Moving the stroke too far is wasted effort, so there is no need to exaggerate the stroke. Keeping the paddle low, lift the blade out sideways to minimize any drag. Repeat this process on the other side and each full stroke will keep your boat moving forward in a consistent and methodical approach.
Reverse Direction
Being able to paddle backward is crucial for getting yourself out of tighter areas. It will also allow you to explored some new territory. Just like the catch in paddling forward, the body is wound, but this time you will place the paddle in the same side that you will enter the paddle into the water. Even if your paddle blades are concave, there is no need to turn the paddle around.
Exactly as the power portion of the stroke, the blade is in the water as you push the boat backwards past the blade. Again, power is transferred through the body and into boat. Continue the power until the body is now facing the opposite side of the boat from the paddle.
The recovery mimics the forward stroke as the paddle is lifted sideways as it passes your knee. The opposite paddle blade can now begin the catch phase of the forward stroke or you can repeat the process to continue the reverse stroke.
Turning your boat
The turning or sweep stroke is very similar to the forward and reverse paddle stroke, but with a few key differences. Although you can perform this stroke in either direction, we suggest that you practice moving forward first.
To perform the sweep, begin the catch exactly as you would the forward stroke. Wind the body so that you face the opposite side of where you will enter the paddle into the water.
The power is similar to the forward stroke except this time you keep the blade as far away from the boat as possible at a flat angle instead of keeping at a close, high angle. The further away the paddle blade from the boat, the more effective of a turn.
The recovery continues until the shoulders are facing the side of the boat the stroke originated from. The blade is removed from the water and the stroke is completed.
What you do next is determined by what you want to accomplish. If you have turned the boat enough, you can begin the catch of the forward or reverse stroke. If you need to continue turning, simply repeat the turn stroke process until you have completed your turn.
Going Straight
It may seem as you first begin to paddle, that the boat goes where it wants. As long as you are in proper position and holding the paddle correctly, things will begin to make sense. Remember to paddle evenly on each side and keep a rhythm so that the bow (front) of the boat sways from side to side. Once you learn the pace and timing, you should be able to paddle in a relatively straight line.
Start your paddling journey on flat water and take your time to learn how to maneuver your boat. Once you have the basics, feel free to experiment with progressively more difficult situations. It is always better to practice in ideal conditions than at the moment you wish you had. Be safe, and we will see you on the water.