Paddling

You can choose to paddle, pedal or combine the two. These guidelines will help you to get started.

To start, sit in your kayak. Your backside should be all the way back in the seat and your knees comfortably bent. To find the proper footwell, straighten your legs all the way out and then bring them back one “well”. If your legs are too outstretched, you may experience strain on your lower back. If your knees are bent too much, you may end up knocking your kneecaps while paddling.

For proper hand placement on your paddle, start with your hands about a shoulder’s width apart and centered. If you place the center of the paddle on top of your head, your elbows should form slightly less than a 90 degree angle. There should be an equal amount of paddle shaft beyond each of your hands.

Some paddles may have the blades offset, or “feathered”, at some degree from parallel. A feathered paddle presents less surface area for the wind to catch as that blade moves forward through the air. Some paddles have a flattened spot along the paddle shaft that will help keep your “control” hand in a fixed position. However, a special technique must be used to get each blade in the water. If the paddle is right- hand controlled (when the right blade is held vertical, the left blade “scoop” is pointed mostly up), the right hand will stay

tight and the left hand loose. To learn the process, hold the paddle tight in your right hand and loose in your left. Using the right hand, rotate the paddle blade back and forth; it should spin in your left hand. Now take a stroke on your right, then cock your right wrist back (left hand staying loose and somewhat open) and take a stroke on your left. If using a left-hand control paddle, reverse the process. The left hand stays tight and the right hand loose.

The basic paddle stroke will give you forward power. Place a paddle blade in the water near your toes. Pull the paddle blade back alongside the boat to approximately your hip area while your opposite hand and paddle blade move forward. Then lift the first paddle blade out of the water while lowering the second blade into the water and take a stroke with the other side.

If you pull the paddle out and away from the hull in an arc, it will force the bow of the boat to swing away from the paddle blade. This is called a “sweep stroke” and is used to turn the boat.

Relax your hands when paddling; a tight grip is not neces- sary! Sit with good posture while keeping your torso verti- cal.

For greater efficiency use not only your arms, but your torso and shoulders as well. Start out easy until you get the feel of the paddle and the steering strokes.