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extended sculling brace to get foolproof sup- port in choppy water. And if my roll fails twice, my next move is to apply an extended paddle roll, also known as a Pawlata roll. You can ap- ply the same techniques to a crank shaft paddle with a bit of adaptation and extra practice. To begin, just practise moving your hands
on the paddle shaft. Tere are several ways to do this. Te slipping method is one option. First slip one of your hands to the paddle neck (where the shaft meets blade), keeping the oth- er one near the centre. Another method is to relax your grip on one hand and push or pull the shaft from one side to the other. At the be- ginning, you will have to experiment with how much to relax and tighten your grip to control or release the shaft. Te gripping method works too: move one
hand at a time from one position on the shaft to another by opening your hands completely. Tis method lets you move a hand out to the blade tip for even more leverage. Te disad- vantage is that when you release the grip on the shaft, you open the door to a fumble.
Using any combination of these methods,
try moving your hands slowly at first along the shaft to develop coordination and pro- prioceptive acuity. Ten practise sliding them quickly to any position. To develop a kinaesthetic awareness of the
blade on the water, scull the power face of the blade back and forth over the surface without looking at the paddle. If the blade sinks, ad- just the angle right away so you have a slight lifting angle. Now test your reflexes by bracing with an
extended paddle grip on one side 10 times, then on the other side. Ten try alternating braces on one side and then the other. Try to do a low brace one side and a high brace the other, in- creasing the speed. Ten try it blindfolded. In- tuitively knowing how your blades are oriented at all times is crucial in rough water. Once you have mastered this, you can truly
“extend” your paddling horizons by using your paddle as a lever in any situation.
Safety T ips
• Increase your reach gradually. Don’t exceed the leverage your body or paddle can handle (I have broken a couple of shafts trying this).
• Protect your body by always keeping your shoulders and arms in a box shape with your elbows tucked close your trunk—not extended out over the water.
• When holding the paddle by the blade, wrap your fingers around the edge for a positive grip on the wet surface.
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SERGE SAVARD is a Paddle Canada sea kayaking Senior Instructor Trainer. In 2005 he completed the “Tour du Golfe,” making every crossing in the Gulf of St. Law- rence including Cape Breton to Newfoundland.
www.paddlerco-op.com 1-888-233-3929
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