Having simple knowledge of basic paddling tips can make your experience in a canoe rewarding and fun. A few basic tips can greatly increase your efficiency and increase stamina, leading to an enjoyable day on the water. Simple tips can increase competency and skill level, letting you splash into the next level of the sport.
Posture
Sit upright in the canoe with your eyes looking forward. Keep the paddle at eye level and in front of you to make your strokes consistent and strong. Good posture also assists your lungs at taking in oxygen, allowing you to breathe properly and effectively as you paddle.
Paddle Alignment
Keep the paddle as vertical as possible. Don't let the paddle get away from you or too far horizontally from the canoe. Keeping the paddle vertical makes your strokes as efficient as possible and helps conserve your energy throughout the day.
Use Your Body
Use your shoulders and upper body when paddling to make strokes and keep tension in your torso. This puts more power into your strokes and propels the canoe more fluidly through the water.
Keep Relaxed
Maintain an athletic posture but stay relaxed. Keeping relaxed lets you breathe easier and maintains stamina throughout your canoeing excursion. You should be relaxed in your upper body, legs, and arms, and don't grip the paddle too tightly or create excess tension in the arms while stroking.
Hand Placement
Place one hand on top of the paddle and the other holding the shaft. Put the opposite hand of the side you are stroking on top of the paddle. To switch sides, fluidly exchange places on the shaft and top of the paddle.
Make Fluid Strokes
Dip the paddle in front of you at a point that is comfortable to reach. Draw the paddle toward you from this point and maintain a fluid and even rhythm that propels you across the water.
About The Author
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Rob Holzman has been writing outdoor articles since 1997. He recently published the first comprehensive rock climbing guidebook for Pennsylvania and has fiction work published in the "Pacific Northwest Inlander". Holzman has also appeared on FOX television and has been an outdoor consultant for the Discovery Channel.
