PACKRAFTING TECHNICAL TIPS #1 - Forward Technique

On our latest packrafting courses for Paddle Tasmania Dan Hall and I have been employing slow-motion video to highlight both paddling techniques and paddlers' issues. We have found it to be incredibly useful and intend to use it a lot more in the future. In this video series I hope to encourage more and more packrafters to improve their technical paddling skills.
The most common problem Dan and I see in participants on all our advanced, intermediate and beginner packrafting courses is ineffective forward paddling. The inability to quickly generate power often leads to the paddler missing eddies entirely or getting caught up in the confused water along the eddy line. It can also get packrafters into more serious trouble when they are unable to change their line on a challenging rapid. Without even realising it many packrafters are content to 'float' rather than 'boat' and so when it comes time to build appropriate momentum across eddy lines, or across the river, they struggle. Of all the whitewater strokes paddlers use, the hardest to master is actually this, the forward paddling technique. I still struggle with it myself despite (& perhaps because of) 30 years of whitewater paddling. A couple of years ago I took up ocean ski paddling and started attending coached technical paddling sessions. I soon learned how ineffective my technique was and am still working hard at trying to improve it and to rid my technique of my bad habits. Dan Hall is the master of the forward technique and in fact he has made a life-long career out of it. Here you can see the body rotation he employs to utilise his core muscles rather than simply his arms. The blade is entering the water vertically and the shaft is vertical at the point of maximum pull during the 'catch phase'. The sign of a good paddler is how little water they lift on the exit of their stroke. In this video you can see how cleanly the blade exits the water. In contrast you can see in the other paddlers how their ineffective forward strokes are getting them into trouble and failing to propel them into the eddy at the correct angle and speed. I'd strongly encourage all packrafters/paddlers to have a good look at their forward stroke!
I first put these videos up simply on my Instagram page @mark.oates but will now put them up here too.
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[@wahallagroove2966]

Hello. Im about 5.9 tall. And cannot determine paddle length. Do I need 200cm paddle on white water?
And 230cm for flat water?
Im not sure I have to decide the paddle length based on my height and packraft width or what kind of water I will paddle on.

[@MarkOates]

Hi Wahalla Groove. Both Dan (featured in this video) and I are similarly around 5.10. You are correct in that different lengths are ideal for WW versus FW. In addition to height other factors are the width of your boat and tubes plus how high you sit and your back length, etc. We both use 200-202cm most of the time on WW in our packrafts although I do use a 197 for remote trips but only because that is an old strong fibreglass 4-piece that I prefer to take if there is a chance of damaging my carbon paddle. For flatwater I have used up to 215cm and it does feel nice and cruisey with the longer paddle however I can certainly paddle flatwater with my 200/202cm paddles. A paddle around 200cm is good in WW because it allows the paddle to be placed vertically, making for a stronger more powerful stroke. If its longer than 205cm it is really hard to place vertically.

[@wahallagroove2966]

@@MarkOates Dear Mark, thank a lot for your kind explanation and recommendation. It is very helpful to hear some advice from an expert. Really appreciate it!