not enough angle, you can end up stalled on the eddy line, or out in the cur- rent facing upstream. If you leave the eddy with too much angle, say 90 degrees to the eddy line, you will most likely be spun around on the eddy line instead of turning out into the main current. Next comes speed. You’ll want to cross the eddy line with speed to mini- mize the time spent exposed to both currents. Entering into stronger currents usually requires more speed. With your angle set, paddle aggressively toward the eddy line and just as your bow crosses into the main current, do a sweep stroke to give a final burst of speed and initiate the turn. As you cross the eddy line, you’ll need to tilt downstream. Just like riding a bike and just like practicing your low-brace lean turn, you must tilt your kayak into the turn. Shift your weight to your inside butt cheek while simultaneously lifting your outside knee. To add stability in your eddy turns, place a low brace behind you with the paddle shaft at a 45-degree angle to your kayak. Tilting does two things: it improves the shape of your boat in the water for turning; and it lifts the upstream edge of your kayak away from the oncoming current. If you don’t lean enough, the main flow piles up against the upstream side of your kayak and tries to flip you over. The faster the current, the more aggressive your inside tilt and the sharper and quicker the turn. Get into the habit of always tilting as much as you can. Re-entering an eddy, or “peeling in,” is the exact same manoeuvre. Approaching the eddy from upstream, set up your angle at 45 degrees or so to the eddy line. Paddle toward the eddy. As you cross the eddy line, sweep on the outside of the turn and tilt to the inside. You always tilt “downstream” relative to the current you are entering. The current in the eddy is moving against the main current, so this means leaning into the turn again, even though this time you’ll be leaning upstream relative to the main flow. The rush of the opposing current grabbing your bow and pulling it around is highly addictive. Like a kid, you will find yourself heading back to the top of the eddy for another eddy turn. Once you’re comfortable crossing eddy lines and controlling your angle relative to the current, you’ll be ready to mas- ter other exciting manoeuvres like ferry glides and surfing. Understanding angle, speed and tilt, you’ll begin to view tidal rapids not as hazards to be avoided, but as playspots to be sought out.
Dan Lewis has been teaching sea kayaking for over 20 years. He runs Rainforest Kayak Adventures in Tofino, B.C.
Now back to eddy and repeat.
ADVENTUREkayakmag.com 17
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