Canoeing can be a relaxing journey across a lake or down a gentle stream, as well as an exciting whitewater experience, often at high speeds. Regardless of the intensity of your next canoe trip, knowing some of the basics of paddling will make it a lot easier, a lot more fun and possibly safer.
Use Your Head
To paddle in a straight line, remember to keep your head up and your eyes straight ahead. A stable head keeps you centered in the canoe. And according to "Canoe and Kayak" magazine, "A stable head encourages body rotation with each forward stroke. That rotary motion of your body is done with your back, which is more powerful than the strongest of arms."
Forward Motion
The experts at "Canoe and Kayak" also recommend raising the paddle high with your grip hand before bringing the paddle straight down in the water and pulling back with your other hand. If you keep your back straight and keep your arm motions strong and authoritative, you'll get more power with each stroke (as opposed to jabbing at the water). The magazine advises, "No need to lean forward to grab water; it will come to you if you let it."
Turning
The "J stroke" is the key to turning a canoe. If you want the canoe to move left, bring the paddle back through the water near the boat on the right side. When the paddle is parallel with your upper thigh, turn the paddle in the water to make a "J" shape in the water, with the paddle pushed out away from the canoe, according to experts at the Red Rock Wilderness Store in Ely, Minn. Do the same on the opposite side of the canoe to go right.
Draw Stroke
The draw stroke is basically the opposite of the J stroke. To go left, you'll start with the paddle on the left side away from the boat and pull the paddle back and toward the canoe. Do the opposite to go right. Sometimes these strokes are necessary, not because you're specifically trying to steer in a new direction, but to counteract wind and currents that will move your canoe.
Two in a Boat
If there are two of you in a canoe, remember to paddle on opposite sides of the boat. It's also important to know that the paddler in the stern (rear) of the boat has the most command.
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