Fig . 5
Fig . 7
Fig . 6
PADDLER 49
THREE PADDLE BLADE POSITIONS :
When it comes to paddle placement , we also have unlimited possibilities , not only in terms of forward and back but also closer in and further out . I limit the number to three paddle blade placement positions , plus three cross-positions , as a realistic starting point for developing a feeling for how my canoe responds to where I place my paddle when initiating a paddle
stroke . I refer to these paddle positions as : |
Onside |
Offside |
Forward |
Cross Forward |
Side |
Cross Side |
Back |
Cross Back |
As in figure 5 below . |
Fig . 5
Fig . 7
TWO PADDLE BLADE MOVES :
Regarding paddle moves , we might assume there are many , so it may seem counter-intuitive to suggest there are basically two . What strikes me as the single most significant dimension underlying all aspects of
Fig . 6
canoeing – functional , interpretive and contemplative – is that a paddle blade is either pulled to create a drawing or pulling force on its inside face , or the blade is pushed away to create a prying or pushing force on its outside face .
All the many moves we make with our canoe involve either a pulling or pushing move of our paddle or some combination of both . There is a third type of move in which the blade moves edge-wise through the water so as to produce no water pressure on either side of the paddle . This is known as an in-water recovery , as it is beneficial when we want to go from one stroke to another without taking our paddle out of the water .
See figures 6 and 7 .
My exploration of these basic elements of paddling may have begun as a playful distraction and then warm-up exercises ; however , I soon discovered they had a direct effect on my original aspiration to master the spectrum of FreeStyle manoeuvres such as Axels , Wedges , and S ideslips .
SUCCESS OFTEN ELUDED US
I had observed in myself , as well as my fellow students , that in spite of our best efforts to replicate the positions and moves our teachers demonstrated for a particular manoeuvre , success often eluded us . While I did not doubt there were optimal paddle positions , it did not make sense to keep trying the same thing repeatedly if it did not produce the intended result . It made more sense to attend to the play of forces on my paddle and canoe than mechanically repeat positions that were not effective .
My playful side was inclined to experiment with where and how I moved my paddle in search of the magical sweet spot where , suddenly , the relevant pushing or pulling sensation did produce the desired effect . I can imagine many students might benefit from including the playful exploration of how these pushing and pulling forces on the paddle affect the canoe as an integral aspect of learning FreeStyle techniques .
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