MARK-HIGH BRACE
NICK- LOW BRACE In the most basic sense of paddling one can break down strokes into component parts; forward, reverse, sweeps, draws, braces and etc. This is typically the way we teach these strokes as well. However, as you advance and begin to link strokes in real conditions the distinction between the component parts often becomes blurred, yet in each stroke there remains good fundamental skill. In these two images I aim to offer a quick critique on both the high brace and the low brace in real-time action as shown during a whitewater outing this past spring.
HIGH BRACE: When I teach the high brace I feel the most important part of the stroke is having your onwater elbow directly underneath the paddle shaft and having the hands in close to your body. Mark exemplifies this in the image. Although not completely clear because of some air in his drysuit, he has rotated from his waist towards the right side to extend the paddle out over the water. Knowing Mark is using a paddle set at 0 degree feather you can also see by the offwater blade that the onwater blade is placed flat on the surface of the water for maximum support.
LOW BRACE: Much like the high brace, hand/elbow positioning is very important. Nick is preparing his low brace on the right hand side as he works on keeping the right side of his boat edged up into the flow of a small rapid. You can see he has a strong paddlers box in position, that is to say the paddle shaft is parallel to his shoulders. He has brought the paddle in close to his body at the start of this brace so that by simply rotating his forearms down he can finish in a position where his onwater elbow is vertical above the shaft as he pushes off the water.
Recognizing that neither of these strokes are being used solely as braces, they have elements that do not quite look like the text book modeling you may be used to seeing. I have began a quick overview. I encourage you think about what you may have already learned or experienced in relation to these strokes. Please comment and critique on the elements that agree with the guidelines and also things that could be done differently.
For a reference to standards by which you can compare strokes you can see the ACA guideline (braces) or KAYAK PADDLING for some good illustrations.
Recognizing that neither of these strokes are being used solely as braces, they have elements that do not quite look like the text book modeling you may be used to seeing. I have began a quick overview. I encourage you think about what you may have already learned or experienced in relation to these strokes. Please comment and critique on the elements that agree with the guidelines and also things that could be done differently.
For a reference to standards by which you can compare strokes you can see the ACA guideline (braces) or KAYAK PADDLING for some good illustrations.
No comments:
Post a Comment