Forward Paddling
Jakob Jelling
Forward paddling seems easy, but there is room for improvement.
Forward paddling is probably the most under-appreciated and
under-practiced kayaking move. However, as you might imagine,
this is the most important move that you can learn. Depending on
where you're going to be kayaking, and how long of a kayak tour
you intend to go on, good forward paddling may end up saving you
a lot of time, effort, and muscle strain.
The most important thing to remember about your forward paddling,
however is that you should only work on improving it if you feel
that you can't do everything that you want to be able to do while
you're in your kayak.
First, you should make sure that you have good posture in your
kayak. It's important that you sit up in your kayak instead of
leaning back. This way, you'll be able to make all of your
paddling strokes as powerful as possible. You should also make
sure that your feet are right up against the footrest inside of
your kayak. That way you'll have a more powerful stroke than you
would otherwise.
Next, you should pay attention to where the paddle goes into the
water. It should enter near where your feet are in the kayak. You
don't have to be completely precise, however, as it is sometimes
hard to figure out exactly where you want the paddle to enter the
water - and you will lose power if you spend too much time
second-guessing your strokes.
You should work on relaxing your grip on the kayak paddle, as
well, as this will make it easier for you to sustain your
paddling pace - and can prevent injuries.
It is also important to make sure that you are paddling close to
the kayak, and that your strokes are going deep. That way, you'll
be making the most efficient paddling strokes that you can.
If you follow this advice, and work on strengthening the parts of
your body that get tired fastest, then you'll find that your
forward paddling improves.
Jakob Jelling is the founder of
http://www.kayakhelp.com . Please
visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.
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