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One of the great things about kayaking, is that almost anyone can do it.
But you need to understand that developing good paddling technique is important, because
not only will it let you paddle the most efficiently, it will make you safer on the water.
In particular, poor technique will tire your body much more quickly, and leave you less
prepared to deal with changing conditions or dangerous situations.
Practicing good technique will also equip you to deal with unexpected and challenging
water or weather conditions.
So in this video, we're going to look at a few simple ways to improve your paddling technique
and make you more comfortable and safer on the water.
The first things we're going to look at, is the proper sitting position in a kayak.
One of the things that separates a very basic kayak, from a higher quality kayak, is the comfort of the seat.
In fact, many kayaks have seats that are so comfortable, they make you want to lounge in them.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with lounging in a kayak, but for the purposes of paddling,
you need to sit up with good posture, because paddling with good posture will let you paddle
further, harder, and it will help you to avoid issues like back pain.
Paddling with good posture means sitting upright, and not leaning back.
Your feet should be resting comfortably and securely against the foot pedals, and your
legs should be comfortably flexed and a little splayed out.
This leg position makes sitting upright easier and reduces the strain on your hamstrings and back.
Quality kayaks also come with some type of adjustable back support, which can be loosened
when you want to kick back and relax, and tightened to provide support and encourage
an upright sitting position.
The second technique we're going to look at, is how to properly use your paddle.
The first thing to know about kayak paddles, is that some are feathered, and some are unfeathered.
Unfeathered paddles have blades that are in line with each other, while an unfeathered
paddle has blades that are offset from one another to some degree.
The offset of unfeathered paddles is designed to let the upper blade slice through the air
and wind more easily when you take a forward stroke.
The trade off, is that you need to twist the paddle when moving from one stroke to the
next, and so let's take a closer look at the correct way to use a feathered paddle.
In most cases, feathered paddles are designed for right handed people - so your right hand
will be your control hand, which means it keeps a relaxed, but firm grip on the shaft at all times.
Your control hand should grip your paddle
and your big knuckles should be aligned with the edge of your paddle blade.
Your other hand should be holding the paddle an equal distance from the other blade.
An easy way to check to see if your hands are in good position, is to lift your paddle onto your head.
Your elbows should be bent at around 90 degrees,
because this will give you the best mix of control and power.
Now, after taking a stroke with the blade by your control hand, you’ll loosen your
grip with the opposite hand, which is sometimes called the “greased” hand, so that you
can rotate the shaft within it.
This rotation is necessary to accommodate the “feather,” or “twist,” of your
paddle, so that your next blade can be placed squarely in the water.
This loosening of the “grease” hand, and the rotation of the shaft within it, takes place between each stroke.
If you’re using an unfeathered paddle, you won’t need to worry about rotating the shaft
between strokes, which is why most people find this more natural.
A last thing to mention, is that even though we refer to the control hand as the ‘glue’
hand, it’s important to know that your grip on the paddle should be secure but light.
A light grip will let you paddle more comfortably, for longer, and will help you avoid overuse
injuries like tendonitis in the wrist.
Well I hope you found this video helpful, and that it makes your time on the water more comfortable.
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