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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.