How to Paddle a Canoe
One of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors is to paddle a canoe on calm bodies of water. There’s nothing like rowing a small boat or canoe in the middle of a lake or a slow stream, whether it’s for exercise or getting in touch with nature. If you’re just starting out canoeing, here are some paddle stroke techniques you may want to learn about.
Handling the Paddle
Canoeing is a very physical sport that requires strength, stamina, and endurance especially on long courses along the water. To paddle a canoe, you need to go against the natural resistance of the water. Paddles do two things:
Break the surface tension of the water.
Provide the leverage you need to go against the resistance of the water.
canoe paddleThe way you hold the paddle during a stroke can make a big difference in how much energy you expend rowing. The resistance of the water and the weight of the paddle can sometimes injure or strain less-experienced people rowing a canoe. To minimize injury and maximize energy, you should hold the paddle in a certain way:
Hold the part of the shaft nearest the blade with your left hand. Make sure your thumb points downward and supports the shaft.
Hold the top of the shaft with your right hand. To maximize power, put your palm on top of the shaft and support the shaft with your thumb and fingers.
Forward and Back Strokes
Like swimming, forward and back strokes are the two basic strokes you have to be familiar with; they make up the basis for the other strokes.
Forward Stroke
The forward stroke is used to propel the boat forward. To perform the forward stroke, follow these steps:
Hold the paddle in the prescribed manner.
Dip the paddle into the water, keeping the paddle perpendicular to the water.
Draw back with the paddle, keeping the paddle as steady and straight as possible.
Back Stroke
The back stroke is the forward stroke done in reverse, and is used to turn back on the water or to stop the boat. To perform the back stroke, follow these steps:
Hold the paddle in the same way you would the forward stroke.
Dip the paddle into the water, making sure that the paddle is as perpendicular to the water as possible.
Draw the paddle forward along the length of the boat; don’t swing the paddle from the center of the shaft.
Advanced Strokes
There are many other strokes that you can use when paddling a canoe. Advanced paddle strokes can be learned from outdoor camps and from outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some of the different strokes that are useful for still-water canoeing as well as whitewater rafting and kayaking:
The J-stroke is often used by two people paddling a single canoe. The stroke is named because the paddle moves in a J-shaped sweep when seen from port-side.
The pry stroke is used to turn the canoe. Instead of drawing the paddle back into the water, the shaft is braced on the side of the canoe and swung outward, with the paddle acting as a lever and the gunwale acting as a fulcrum.
The Indian stroke is an advanced stroke where the paddle is rotated and drawn along the water without taking it out of the surface.
Canoeing can be a relaxing or exciting activity, depending on the kind of course you take your boat out on. With these tips on paddling a canoe, you can go through just about any canoe course safely and easily.