The key to an efficient, enjoyable kayaking venture is the ability to make great strokes. With proper strokes, you can explore any water environment and arrive quickly and effortlessly at your intended destination.
But you’ll need to practice your strokes way in advance before your scheduled paddling trip—for practice makes perfect. Likewise, the place for practicing your strokes matters a lot. So as a rule: practice your stroking techniques in a calm, safe environment until you’ve mastered them properly.
Three Strokes of Kayaking
1. The Forward Stroke
The forward stroke is the most critical stroke. It is the stroke you’ll need more often. And it is the one you’ll spend most of your time doing.
The forward stroke enables you to power your vessel forward. But it involves more than just arm power on the paddle. Great forward strokes are made when most of the work is done with the stronger torso muscles instead of the weaker arm muscles.
So how do you perform a forward stroke?
Hold your paddle and wind your torso as you immerse the paddle blade fully on one side of your boat. Make sure to dip the paddle on the side of the boat just next to your feet.
With the paddle blade in the water, move the blade behind you while rotating your torso. This is achieved by pushing against the paddle shaft with the upper hand.
It is simple: push the shaft and follow the blade with your eyes. The blade pushes behind, and your torso follows. And as soon as your hand reaches just behind your hip, withdraw the blade out of the water—just slice it out.
With that, you’ve performed a forward stroke. And the kayak moves forward a step.
To keep powering the vessel forward, repeat the process by re-immersing the out-of-water blade on the side of your boat, next to your feet.
2. The Reverse Stroke
When you want to stop a moving kayak or to back up a stationary kayak, the reverse stroke comes in handy. So you’ll need it quite often as it will help you “apply brakes” on your kayak.
Simply put, the reverse stroke is the opposite of the forward stroke. That is why, instead of moving a kayak forward, it stops it or slows it down. Or it backs it up when the kayak has stopped.
To make a reverse stroke, wind your torso and immerse your paddle blade fully on the side of your kayak next to your hip. The blade will move in front of you.
With the blade in front, rotate your torso. Draw the paddle shaft towards you, pushing the blade in the opposite direction, which is towards your feet. A complete reverse stroke is achieved when the blade is even with your feet.
When the blade gets level with your feet, slice it out of the water. You can now repeat the reverse stroke by re-immersing the out-of-water blade on the opposite side of your kayak next to your hip.
3. The Sweep Stroke
You want to turn your kayak? Then, you need a good sweep stroke. When performed on the same side of the boat repeatedly, the boat turns.
So How Do You Perform a Sweep Stroke?
Start by extending your arms forward and then dipping your paddle blade near your feet, but on the opposite side of the boat from the direction you want the vessel to turn.
Now, sweep the blade in a wide arc toward your boat’s stern. Ensure there is some power in your body’s rotation as this will optimize the stroke, particularly after the paddle has gone beyond the cockpit.
Then, when the blade moves towards the hull behind the cockpit, terminate the stroke by slicing the blade out of the water. The result will be a gradual arcing turn with minimal loss of momentum.
You may repeat the sweep stroke if necessary, or just resume the forward stroke.
Incredible, Breathtaking Paddling Experiences
Would you like to take your paddling experiences to a new, awesome level? Would you like to avoid going around in circles and to move straight to your destination from day one?
At Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy, we understand that making great strokes forms the basis for awesome kayaking ventures. That is why we encourage you to learn and practice your strokes well before your first excursion. Plus, we believe that you need to take a class and work with an experienced instructor if you’re to learn how to make the strokes correctly and take your paddling to the next level.
If you are looking for a paddling shop or instructor to help you out, just get in touch with us now. For more information on kayaking tips, ideas and rental options, visit the site “Captain Mike’s Kayak Academy.”