5 Fundamentals of Paddling

1. 5 Fundamentals of Paddling

2. Balance • Sit low and center in the boat • Loose hips • Importance • Stable boat • Boat direction • Quick reaction

3. Bad The bow paddler is holding the gunnels, which throws off the balance of the boat. Good The stern paddler is keeping his weight and head centered in the boat. Balance

4. Vision • Keep your head up • Look where you want to go • Importance • Boat direction • Reading river • Aware of hazards

5. Good The bow paddler is look straight forward as he paddles forward. Bad The stern paddler is looking at his paddle, instead of forward. Changing the direction of the boat. Vision

6. Move the boat, Not the paddle • Get blade wet • Plant paddle in water • Act as though paddle is stuck in cement • Move boat to paddle • Importance • Boat control • Endurance • Efficient strokes

7. Move the boat, Not the paddle Good Notice how bow paddler plants her paddle in water moves boat towards it Bad Notice how stern paddler moves her paddle towards the boat

8. Posture • Sit up straight on sit bones • Keep paddler’s box • Importance • Helps with Balance • Boat control

9. Good The bow paddler is sitting straight up on his sit bones. Bad The stern paddler is learning forward and out of the boat. Reducing the effect of his strokes Posture

10. Rotation • Winding and unwinding with your torso • Use of core muscles • Stay in paddler’s box • Importance • Paddler’s Box • Endurance • Efficient strokes

11. Bad The paddler is outside the paddler’s box. He is only using his arms and not rotating. Good The paddler rotated his torso and engaged his abs. He is still in the paddlers box. Rotation