Great advice. Here's my philosophical list I use when teaching people. 1. Posture. 2. Separate upper + lower body. (Sit up straight while tilting boat while paddling forward) 3. Plant your paddle. Put the blade fully in the water before engaging the stroke. If you're creating a lot of splash then you're blade isn't deep enough = no power. 4. Lead with your head + rotate your shoulders. Look where you want to go to. 5. Slow down to go fast. One strong paddle stroke is more effective than many quickly snatched strokes. Use good technique. Use the water. 6. Relax. Consciously relax. When you are mentally tense you body/muscles tense up too. This can ruin your upper + lower body separation, your body rotation, your power, and your body-balance reactions. Smile. 7. Paddle with people who look smooth. Paddle with people who control their boat with good technique. Ask them questions. Don't confuse someones history of 'getting down' hard runs with being a good paddler. Style = control = safety.
Thanks for the great advice, I've recently fallen in love with Rivers and all of their power and purity.. Mother Nature is incredibly awesome and inspiring~~~
Charging the arc! Love it. Hadn't heard that one before. Oh, and the idea that the safety box is not about 'not moving your paddle out of the box', rather it's about body motion to bring your posture and chest position to where you want the paddle to be. The old mental model problem!
@@macfawlty Definitely check out the Lean Boof video for more on Ear Dips. A lot of people have the misconception that an ear dip is just a brace/half roll but a true ear dip actually just the accentuation or artistic expression of a Lean Boof. Bracing on the way
Make sure the lifevest is tight enough to not ride up around your ears if you swim. If you start to wrap bail. If you bail hold onto the paddle. Keep feet up away from cracks and boulders. Know about strainers and undercuts. Try to grab a bow or stern loop and swim to an eddy or shore. Don't get between your boat and a rock. Stay upstream of your kayak or rescue raft if there's obstacles. When in doubt portage. I'm no expert and may be totally wrong but I doubt it.
Great question! Over gripping is a type of tension that spreads through the body and affects not only your strokes, but also the rest of your movements in a way that can severely hinder your performance. So when you're paddling you really want to keep a loose grip, pinkies out as we say. Carbon paddles are slick and when you're in powerful whitewater but having to use good technique, the electrical tape just provides a sure grip without having to grip too tightly or causing weird blisters. It's wrapped in a way that starts toward the center of the shaft and gradually gets closer to the blade. That creates small ridges that keep a loose hand from sliding down the shaft. The result is excellent grip without blisters, but also a loose enough grip at the same time that I really only have to hold the paddle with two or three fingers on each hand even in extremely powerful whitewater. It's cheap, easy to replace, and a wrapping technique used by many of the world's top kayakers. Great question and thanks for watching!
Thanks for your Videos. Would you mind explaining a bit More why the seperation of lower and upper body is so important. More than "just" stability...which I heard a lot but dont get it a hundred percent. Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.
Rolling, every stroke in kayaking whether it's a forward stroke or turning stroke, every river running move, every freestyle trick all require your upper body and lower body to function independently, but cooperatively... requiring a separation of upper and lower body movements. Thanks for watching!
I’m glad you asked! Full video on the way as this was just a brief and dirty edit, but basically everything you do in kayaking, river running anyway, will involve a Charging Arc. Charging Arc is your timing, speed, angle, and edge. That combination with the rivers power will always flow in an arc (half circle). When you’re eddying out, you’ll time it so that you exit the water around 45 degrees (on average) to the oncoming flow. When you stern squirt you’ll want to exit the eddy more like 90 degrees to the oncoming flow. Basically, if you can imagine your speed, boat angle, and the amount if edge you drop and timing it to be exactly where you want to be in relation to the river, that’s “ChArc” or Charging Arc in a nutshell. Typically as the speed changes and forces combine, you’ll notice an Arc if you pay close enough attention… getting comfortable setting and timing your speed, angle, and edge with the water’s speed, angle, and relative slope is an essential skill. Hope that helps… If not, more on it soon!
@@CleanLineKayaking thanks for the considered response. I notice skilled paddlers arc into a drop and then boof appropriately. It is this specific issue I’m struggling with. (Also the amount of skin left on my knuckles!) They seem to get their boats in place effortlessly. This arc timing is not easy. Everything happens very quickly and a slight error in stroke or boof often results in pain. They keep their paddles in the water by slicing and then turning the power face just at the lip. What does this achieve? Thanks again
@@fullmetaljacket3018 No worries... typically, it's a combination stroke that creates an incredible amount of control, especially when coupled with proper use of charging arc (which just requires loads of experience). Most of the time we'll use a C Stroke for the arc but may incorporate or hold a draw or side slip for more adjustment. Then we slice the paddle back into position for the Boof Stroke while keeping it loaded with pressure from holding the other strokes. Removing the paddle would lose that pressure. All that buildup on the blade can be harnessed for a better boof than you could ever pull with single boof stroke... I'll cover it in the stroke efficiency video I'm working on. Love that you're thinking about all this.
@@CleanLineKayaking awesome…basically need to spend a lot of time and loose more skin! Kayaking is deceptively skill based. Looks so easy when the pros are doing it. Appreciate your work. Your explanation on the physics of boofing was excellent. Understanding is the first step…putting it into action not so easy. No substitute for time and repetition
The most important golden rule for whitewater kayaking is, "Paddle only the rapids that you are comfortable with and your abilities can handle. Never paddle a rapid that you feel pressure to run. Either from yourself/ego or peer pressure. You can come back another day when you know you are truly ready and your skills are up to the task. And never run a rapid that you are unsure of and think that someone will rescue you when you get into trouble. If you don't feel confident in self rescue, then don't run!"
I’m based in the Southeast US, but instruct from Canada (Ottawa) to Chile. I’m open to a clinic or two in Europe as well, I just don’t get over there enough to set it up. There’s an opportunity for a week in Ottawa coming up this summer!
Great advice. Here's my philosophical list I use when teaching people.
1. Posture.
2. Separate upper + lower body. (Sit up straight while tilting boat while paddling forward)
3. Plant your paddle. Put the blade fully in the water before engaging the stroke. If you're creating a lot of splash then you're blade isn't deep enough = no power.
4. Lead with your head + rotate your shoulders. Look where you want to go to.
5. Slow down to go fast. One strong paddle stroke is more effective than many quickly snatched strokes. Use good technique. Use the water.
6. Relax. Consciously relax. When you are mentally tense you body/muscles tense up too. This can ruin your upper + lower body separation, your body rotation, your power, and your body-balance reactions. Smile.
7. Paddle with people who look smooth. Paddle with people who control their boat with good technique. Ask them questions. Don't confuse someones history of 'getting down' hard runs with being a good paddler. Style = control = safety.
cool... thanks for watching!
Thanks for the great advice, I've recently fallen in love with Rivers and all of their power and purity.. Mother Nature is incredibly awesome and inspiring~~~
Charging the arc! Love it. Hadn't heard that one before.
Oh, and the idea that the safety box is not about 'not moving your paddle out of the box', rather it's about body motion to bring your posture and chest position to where you want the paddle to be. The old mental model problem!
Really like your tips on fundamentals. I'd like to see a series on how to practice these fundamentals on flatwater.
I’ll definitely do a video that covers that. I’m essentially combining it with edge control. Thanks for watching! 🤙🏻
@@CleanLineKayaking perhaps some bracing/ear dipping.
@@macfawlty Definitely check out the Lean Boof video for more on Ear Dips. A lot of people have the misconception that an ear dip is just a brace/half roll but a true ear dip actually just the accentuation or artistic expression of a Lean Boof. Bracing on the way
Holy cow. What a great explaining about vector
Great info and demonstration ! I think Most of this rules also apply to sea kayak.
Make sure the lifevest is tight enough to not ride up around your ears if you swim.
If you start to wrap bail.
If you bail hold onto the paddle.
Keep feet up away from cracks and boulders.
Know about strainers and undercuts.
Try to grab a bow or stern loop and swim to an eddy or shore.
Don't get between your boat and a rock.
Stay upstream of your kayak or rescue raft if there's obstacles.
When in doubt portage.
I'm no expert and may be totally wrong but I doubt it.
Why the tape on your paddle? Reference? thanks for the video
Great question! Over gripping is a type of tension that spreads through the body and affects not only your strokes, but also the rest of your movements in a way that can severely hinder your performance. So when you're paddling you really want to keep a loose grip, pinkies out as we say. Carbon paddles are slick and when you're in powerful whitewater but having to use good technique, the electrical tape just provides a sure grip without having to grip too tightly or causing weird blisters. It's wrapped in a way that starts toward the center of the shaft and gradually gets closer to the blade. That creates small ridges that keep a loose hand from sliding down the shaft. The result is excellent grip without blisters, but also a loose enough grip at the same time that I really only have to hold the paddle with two or three fingers on each hand even in extremely powerful whitewater. It's cheap, easy to replace, and a wrapping technique used by many of the world's top kayakers. Great question and thanks for watching!
@@CleanLineKayaking Thanks for the tip, I stay lose grip, but this will help with grip when I need it most.
@@CleanLineKayaking I just taped my paddle last night. Now I have to re-do it having learned this
@@darksidecarnival5385 you’ll be glad you did 🤙🏻 and electrical tape is pretty cheap
rhank you for your video
Thanks for your Videos. Would you mind explaining a bit More why the seperation of lower and upper body is so important. More than "just" stability...which I heard a lot but dont get it a hundred percent. Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.
Rolling, every stroke in kayaking whether it's a forward stroke or turning stroke, every river running move, every freestyle trick all require your upper body and lower body to function independently, but cooperatively... requiring a separation of upper and lower body movements. Thanks for watching!
#3 Elvis in the pelvis is how I taught everyone!
Can you elaborate on arcs?
Need more on arcs
I’m glad you asked! Full video on the way as this was just a brief and dirty edit, but basically everything you do in kayaking, river running anyway, will involve a Charging Arc. Charging Arc is your timing, speed, angle, and edge. That combination with the rivers power will always flow in an arc (half circle). When you’re eddying out, you’ll time it so that you exit the water around 45 degrees (on average) to the oncoming flow. When you stern squirt you’ll want to exit the eddy more like 90 degrees to the oncoming flow. Basically, if you can imagine your speed, boat angle, and the amount if edge you drop and timing it to be exactly where you want to be in relation to the river, that’s “ChArc” or Charging Arc in a nutshell. Typically as the speed changes and forces combine, you’ll notice an Arc if you pay close enough attention… getting comfortable setting and timing your speed, angle, and edge with the water’s speed, angle, and relative slope is an essential skill. Hope that helps… If not, more on it soon!
@@CleanLineKayaking thanks for the considered response. I notice skilled paddlers arc into a drop and then boof appropriately. It is this specific issue I’m struggling with. (Also the amount of skin left on my knuckles!) They seem to get their boats in place effortlessly. This arc timing is not easy. Everything happens very quickly and a slight error in stroke or boof often results in pain. They keep their paddles in the water by slicing and then turning the power face just at the lip. What does this achieve? Thanks again
@@fullmetaljacket3018 No worries... typically, it's a combination stroke that creates an incredible amount of control, especially when coupled with proper use of charging arc (which just requires loads of experience). Most of the time we'll use a C Stroke for the arc but may incorporate or hold a draw or side slip for more adjustment. Then we slice the paddle back into position for the Boof Stroke while keeping it loaded with pressure from holding the other strokes. Removing the paddle would lose that pressure. All that buildup on the blade can be harnessed for a better boof than you could ever pull with single boof stroke... I'll cover it in the stroke efficiency video I'm working on. Love that you're thinking about all this.
@@CleanLineKayaking awesome…basically need to spend a lot of time and loose more skin! Kayaking is deceptively skill based. Looks so easy when the pros are doing it. Appreciate your work. Your explanation on the physics of boofing was excellent. Understanding is the first step…putting it into action not so easy. No substitute for time and repetition
The most important golden rule for whitewater kayaking is, "Paddle only the rapids that you are comfortable with and your abilities can handle. Never paddle a rapid that you feel pressure to run. Either from yourself/ego or peer pressure. You can come back another day when you know you are truly ready and your skills are up to the task. And never run a rapid that you are unsure of and think that someone will rescue you when you get into trouble. If you don't feel confident in self rescue, then don't run!"
talking about technique here, but you should check out the dealing with fear video if you haven't already
...would love to see some safety tutorials from you guys ...would fit perfektly to "dealing with fear"
Thx for all the good vids !!
What general area are you located? You seem like you’d be a great teacher in person!
Agreed! Boyd, where do you teach?!?!
I’m based in the Southeast US, but instruct from Canada (Ottawa) to Chile. I’m open to a clinic or two in Europe as well, I just don’t get over there enough to set it up. There’s an opportunity for a week in Ottawa coming up this summer!
@@CleanLineKayaking Do you get over to the PNW or California very often?
@@Nazgul265 occasionally… I’ll post up when I do 🤙🏻
@@CleanLineKayaking what's the best way to get a hold of you to set something up?
My number one rule: Stay in your protective plastic shell.