How to Hold a Kayak Paddle

Video Transcript

We are going to talk about how to hold a kayak paddle. Now the first thing, when you grab a kayak paddle you want to grab it so that you can read the labels on it. If the label is upside down like this, it means you are holding the kayak paddle upside down. If that is the case you need to right it a hundred and eighty degrees so that when you grab the paddle you can read the labels. If the labels are not located on the blade here, there will be a label located on the paddle. The other way to know that you are holding it correctly is on a lot of paddles this is an asymmetrical blade. There will be a cut-out at the bottom. The cut-out always goes to the bottom. What that is for is when you take your stroke it comes out of the water easier and it is easier on your shoulders. So now that you are holding the blade in the correct form the other thing that you want to make sure of is that the scoop is facing to you. Remember the backside of the blade is scooped the back way. So you want to make sure that that scoop is always facing to you. So the first thing you want to do is put the kayak paddle up on top of your head. When you grab the blade your arm should be parallel to the surface, your forearm should be straight up and down. So when I grab this paddle. See how my arms are at a ninety degree angle? That is how you know how wide to hold the paddle. So if I have got it in here it is way too narrow and this will be what they call wind milling. If I have got it out too far I won't be able to get any power. So again , that is why you want to grab it like this, put it on top of my head, make sure my arms have a ninety degree angle, and then I can break it down in front of me.