The Ideal Forward Stroke - Sea Kayak Technique

SeaKayakingTV
SeaKayakingTV
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Published 2010-10-21
Ken Whiting explains and demonstrates how to perform a quality forward stroke, and get the most from your paddle and body.

LEARN
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CLOTHING
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STORAGE RACKS
Even if you're on the water 2-hours every day, your boat will be in storage 90% of the time, and improperly stored boats are easily damaged. For the ultimate storage solution, check out Suspenz's indoor and outdoor storage racks for kayaks, canoes, SUPs and more. Visit the Suspenz website for more information wwwsuspenzkayakstorage.com/

KAYAKS
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PADDLES
Notice how nearly every pro on Paddling TV uses an AquaBound paddle? There's a good reason for this. Aqua-Bound manufacturers some of the best paddles on the market, and they won't break your bank account. Having used them for 14 years we're happy to give them our stamp of approval. See their full line-up at www.aquabound.com/

PRODUCED BY
Episode is produced by The Heliconia Press, an award winning TV, digital video, and DVD production company that specializes in outdoor pursuits. Visit www.helipress.com/ to find us online.
All Comments (21)
  • @tiredtridude
    This is the best paddling technique video on YouTube. Thanks for putting the time into making it!
  • @chinosemailable
    Great info,been kayaking for about a month & it's a ton of fun....love my kayak !!
  • @trulywingedhussar
    It's a really professionally made video ever seen by me.You can learn from it a lot.Thanks.
  • @struswell1
    Really helpful, thanks! I have a bad habit of "arm paddling"
  • @2chill2
    good teacher, good camera man
  • @Gkitchens1
    I'm new to kayaks and have a 2 person inflatable. It really pushes you to paddle correctly as it really, really reacts to bad paddling. It seems to have a lot of side to side as it's only 10 feet long, and a missed stroke will have you pointed the wrong direction quickly which completely messes up the rhythm. I got mine for long distance paddling bit I practice spirited paddling too to test how well my muscle memory is working. So far I can paddle quickly but I'll have several errors in a short amount of time. It's gets me going but with a lot of wasted energy. It also sits up higher in the water than a hardshell so not getting the paddle all the way in the water is glaringly obvious too. It's light going to pick up an ice chest you think is loaded down only to find it's empty as you try to forcefully lift it. I do love how well it cruises with little effort to keep it going, not such a fan of it wanting to turn toward the direction of the wind as soon as I stop paddling though. I can't imagine how bad it would be without the fin (skeg?) On the bottom.
  • @phantomspaceman
    I've noticed that these rules seem to disappear when you're on a sit-on-top and get into boating traffic and currents in the intracoastal waterway. It's kind of sadistic to learn to paddle there but afterwards it makes this easygoing sit-inside paddling look relaxing. At least when you make a mistake you aren't surrounded by miles of oyster beds.
  • @gusmanchu
    Good video with good basic fundamentals but seems to be a somewhat old school approach to the forward stroke. The author talks about rotation but seems to be rotating his shoulders only and missing a core group of muscles in the abdomen. Keeping a more constant paddlers box would engage the lower torso area and prevent pulling your arm behind your body. Not knocking anything at all but I've found that a more exaggerated paddlers box and rotation to avoid beginners from potential bad habits.
  • @arnoldmeulen
    I've learned to push on the other side of the paddle (air side) instead of pulling (water side). Is this wrong?
  • @davidbassou7686
    I had total butt failure after following this technique. After a successful buttectomy and 32 years of physio my bum bum is fine now.
  • @YouSirAreNoob
    I don't see what's funny about that, being a Canadian doesn't make one less likely to have or use a kayak....
  • @falconeighteen
    It is hard to believe that the same misinformation that I was exposed to as a beginner nearly 30 yrs ago is still being taught.
  • @josephferrara1429
    No!!! This is not efficient nor fast. Besides the Brent Rietz suggested below, there's also Gordon Brown.