journal k ayaker’s
IMMERSED IN BRACING PRACTICE. PHOTO: MEGAN GAMBLE
DIGITAL EXTRA: To watch a video tutorial, go to Adventurekayakmag. com/0049 or download the Adventure Kayak app.
TECHNIQUE BY MICHAEL PARDY Preventive Measures AVOID CAPSIZES WITH A RELIABLE AND SAFE HIGH BRACE
The high brace is a pre-emptive self-rescue used to stay upright when waves or current have pushed your kayak over to the edge of capsize. Responding with a high brace allows you to recover before falling into the water. The technique is described here on the left
side of the kayak. Simply reverse the lefts for rights for a righthand high brace. For a brace to become an instinctive response, you need to practice these three phases: the set up, the fall and the recovery.
SET UP From your normal paddling position, move the paddle into a chin-up position. Your paddle should be parallel to the water, with the blades’ power faces facing the water and your hands above your elbows. Lower the paddle as far as you can comfortably go so the blades are closer to the water. Shift the paddle to the left until your right hand is between your sternum and belly button and your left hand is over the wa- ter. The shaft of the paddle should still be par- allel to the water. Keep your right arm tight to your body, serving as an anchor for the brace.
FALL Lean the kayak to the left so that you begin to fall toward the water. As you fall, place the left blade at the surface of the water. Use your left arm to pull the blade down against the water so the surface tension is broken and the paddle is just under the surface of the water. Remem-
30 ADVENTURE KAYAK | EARLY SUMMER 2012
ber, the high brace is NOT an aggressive slap at the surface, but a push against the water to break the surface tension. It is this pressure that slows or stops your sideways fall.
RECOVERY The first part of the recovery is to get the blade out of the water. In the fall phase, the power face is facing the water. In the recovery phase, the paddle is rotated forward 90 degrees and sliced out of the water. Your index fingers are a useful visual reference. In the fall phase, point your index fingers skyward. In the recovery phase, roll your index fingers forward 90 de- grees so they are pointing to the front of the kayak. As you are recovering your paddle, fin- ish the brace by driving up with your left hip and leg to roll the kayak back under your torso. Visualize flicking an imaginary candy from your left knee up into your mouth.
A solid high brace relies on keeping your paddle shaft parallel to the water. This is ac- complished by anchoring the paddle with the right hand. Imagine keeping a golf ball secure in your right armpit throughout the brace. Fin- ishing off with a deliberate roll of your left hip will reliably prevent most capsizes. Michael Pardy is a Paddle Canada Senior In-
structor Trainer based in Victoria, BC, where he runs
SKILS.ca, teaches, paddles and spends time with his family.
PEER REVIEW
At the recovery stage, I would prioritize the knees/legs/feet to start righting the kayak— this must happen before the pressure is taken off the blade and it is recovered. —Doug Coo- per, BCU level 5 coach, Aviemore, Scotland
Visualize the hip flick as a sideways crunch. As you gain some stability from your paddle, crunch the left side of your torso, pulling your shoulder down towards your hip and your hip up towards your shoulder. Exaggerate this movement by dropping your head towards your hip. —Meaghan Hennessy, Paddle Canada level 2 instructor trainer & BCU level 3 coach, Vancouver, BC
In this case, the shoulder at risk and in need of protection is the left shoulder. An alterna- tive position for the right hand is to drop it to the deck at the right hip. This will keep the left shoulder in a more stable position throughout the brace. —Shawna Franklin & Leon Sommé, BCU level 4 coaches, Orcas Island, WA
I have oceans of respect for Michael Pardy, but I believe the high brace can be done safer than described here. Instead of levering down on an extended arm, keeping the arms centered in the usual paddling position will reduce exposure to shoulder injury. —Ginni Callahan, ACA level 5 instructor & BCU level 4 coach, Cathlamet, WA / Loreto, Baja
When bracing in significant waves, I have found that I am more successful when I let my shoulder and back hit the water before attempting to brace. The natural buoyancy of my body slows the capsize. —Bonnie Perry, ACA level 4 instructor trainer & BCU level 3 coach, Chicago, IL
Read more peer reviews from lead- ing coaches and instructors at www.
adventurekayakmag.com/0050.
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