Basic Paddling: The Forward Stroke
The forward stroke is one of the most important stroke and is used 99 percent of the time. Doing the forward stroke using your own technique is fine but it is much better to learn it the right way which in return will make you save more energy which will enable you to paddle stronger, harder and comfortably. (This was brought to you by: Rayomarine.com-a company who’s into selling yachts, catamarans, sailboats, motorboats and kayaks in the Philippines.)
The forward stroke can be divided into three processes namely: Catch, Rotation and Exit.
1. The Catch
You can do this by submerging your paddle fully into the water and pulling it afterwards. The First step is to reach for your knees and submerge your paddle fully. If the paddle won’t be well planted, it will cause splashes and less drag. Pull it as if the paddle was not moving, only you and your kayak.
2. Rotation
Rotation is a means of releasing the potential energy of your paddle at its fullest. Power does not come from your hands alone, it all comes from your upper body mainly from the stomach and your side muscles.
3. Exit
This is the point where the stroke ends and the paddle gets removed from the water. Your stroke must end in your hips. After one side of the paddle gets out of the water, the other side should be readied for a stroke.
After learning about catching, rotation and exit, you can now put it as one. Put in mind that it is better to make your paddle as quiet as possible, think of it that your kayak is like gliding on the water. Practice and master the stroke on a calm environment. Try tilting your kayak steadily on one side, master it and try it into the other. Afterwards, try paddling on a straight path from side to side. This drill should be useful when you are paddling on rough conditions.
For complete details about the forward stroke, try watching this article’s source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvi7rIlsNRY&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL437C13B7D4489670
The forward stroke can be divided into three processes namely: Catch, Rotation and Exit.
1. The Catch
You can do this by submerging your paddle fully into the water and pulling it afterwards. The First step is to reach for your knees and submerge your paddle fully. If the paddle won’t be well planted, it will cause splashes and less drag. Pull it as if the paddle was not moving, only you and your kayak.
2. Rotation
Rotation is a means of releasing the potential energy of your paddle at its fullest. Power does not come from your hands alone, it all comes from your upper body mainly from the stomach and your side muscles.
3. Exit
This is the point where the stroke ends and the paddle gets removed from the water. Your stroke must end in your hips. After one side of the paddle gets out of the water, the other side should be readied for a stroke.
After learning about catching, rotation and exit, you can now put it as one. Put in mind that it is better to make your paddle as quiet as possible, think of it that your kayak is like gliding on the water. Practice and master the stroke on a calm environment. Try tilting your kayak steadily on one side, master it and try it into the other. Afterwards, try paddling on a straight path from side to side. This drill should be useful when you are paddling on rough conditions.
For complete details about the forward stroke, try watching this article’s source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvi7rIlsNRY&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL437C13B7D4489670
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