paddle may be braced on the shoreline, kayak to about even with your hips. The Sweep out and around in a circle and
a rock, a dock, the poolside or another other blade will now be in position to take the paddle out around the area of
kayak. Sit on the rear rim of the cockpit slide into the water beside your other your knees.
and deck, facing forwards and slide your foot. Repeat. At first, do not concern In all these paddling strokes think
feet into the bow of the cockpit. Your yourself with travelling in a straight line. about using your body’s torso and back
body will drop into the seat. Seal your Worry about directional control later. muscles as well as your arms. Wind your
skirt starting at the back and working Execute uniform, gentle strokes. Applying body up like a spring when setting up for
up each side, finally slipping the front too much power will complicate your a stroke and use the powerful large body
section over the cockpit rim. Ensure the learning. Remember, it is technique that muscles in addition to your arms and
pull-tab is protruding for easy grabbing really determines how well you paddle. shoulders. Think about trunk rotation as
and is not wrapped under the skirt Kayak paddle blades are offset and your primary source of paddling power.
inside the cockpit. Reverse the procedure you will have one hand, the control There are many other strokes, and
to exit. hand, which maintains a firm grip on entire books written on the subject. Many
Wet Exit: When, not if, you go upside the paddle shaft. The other hand allows of these books are great investments
down you will have to wet exit. Relax. the paddle to rotate during a stroke on and often have accompanying videos.
Relax. Relax. It is easy to get out of a the control hand side, and grips firmly They are powerful learning tools to help
kayak. Pull the tab of your spray skirt off when applying power for a stroke on the with basic, intermediate and advanced
the cockpit rim at the front. You do not other side. It’s a good idea to practice the paddling. The T-rescue and roll are
need to peel if off all the way around. forward stroke on dry land to develop important to learn, but this article is
Lean forward and push off the cockpit your paddle rotation skill. If you mess up not intended to replace a complete
rim so that your body moves forward your paddle rotation and slice into the instructional course.
over the front of the kayak and your water, please see the above instructions The new school of kayaking and
legs follow out. Do not push backwards for a wet exit. the rapid growth of freestyle or rodeo
or straight up as you may jam in the Back Stroke: Reach behind you with paddling have generated many new
cockpit. Even at this early stage try to one paddle blade, slide it into the water strokes and manoeuvres that greatly
hold onto your paddle at all times. It is a close to the kayak hull and pull it towards expand the fun, thrill and challenge of
very important habit to develop. the front of the boat. Take the blade out paddling. There are competitions for
Brace: Use the paddle like an outrigger of the water when it reaches the spot all levels of ability that offer just one
or a pontoon to improve your balance. beside your feet. more way to enjoy the sport. Once you
Extend it out to one side with the flat Forward Sweep: Reach far forward become a kayaker, you will be hooked for
surface on the water and apply a little near your toes, keeping the paddle life, and you will never stop learning and
pressure, just enough to stabilize yourself. parallel to the kayak. You want to push improving. See you on the river! ~OO
Forward Stroke: Hold the paddle so the bow of the kayak away from the
~ James Roddick is a long time paddler and
that your hands are the width of your paddle, sweep the paddle out in a
instructor, international rodeo competitor
shoulders and upper arms apart, and circular motion and bring it out of the
and graduate of Lakehead University Outdoor
your elbows form right angles. Reach water when it comes level with your Recreation program. During the summers you
forward, close to the side of the kayak hips. This stroke is used for dramatic will find him on the Ottawa River, where he is
to about the spot where your feet are turns or course direction changes.
Director of Ottawa Kayak School at Wilderness
located, and slide the blade into the Back Sweep: The paddle enters the
Tours. At other times of the year he is paddling
water, pulling it down the side of the water behind your hips close to the hull.
or skiing someplace!
Review the river map. Group paddling.
T
ips
Wear your life jacket!
Yeah, we know. It seems When you’re out paddling the river on There’s no hash marks on a
like a pain, and on a hot your next float trip, be sure you know road to direct a safe distance
day through some calm where to get out and a know where the between boats, so be sure to
flatwater, it’s really hard to emergency routes are in case of trouble. As keep an appropriate distance
put it on. But the moment you stop wearing well, you want to ensure you understand between canoes so there’s no chance of
P
addling
it you’ll tend to wear it less all the time. And how to identify and avoid any hazards that running into each other. The distance will
just when you need it you won’t have it. Every are marked on the map. And make your vary depending on the water conditions; but
year there are all sorts of people who drown paddling trip safe by ensuring everything a good rule of thumb is to always keep the
on the river and you can bet 99% of the time about your boat is safe. This includes not boat behind you within view. If you notice
they weren’t wearing their life jacket. So get overloading it or loading it improperly they are lagging behind, pull over and wait
past the “I’m Michael Phelps” thing, and put balanced leading to capsizes; and be smart for them. The key to paddling in a group is
it on. If you have one of these comfortable, when your paddling partner to assign one boat to lead and one sweep
lean and stylish-looking jackets you’ll wear it is getting in and out... boat to paddle in the rear. Both the lead
more often. When you’re at any of the local support the boat. and sweep boat positions should be held
sports stores, try it on and make sure it’s by experienced paddlers with knowledge
comfortable. Check your ego at the door and of the river their on. Never get ahead of the
you’ll probably save a life – yours for starters. assigned lead or behind the assigned sweep
boat.
34 OTTAWA magazine summer/fall 2009 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
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