C-Forum

advice saught re- offside break outs.

after recieving some coaching i have started to use my body alot more to initiate carve in off side breakouts, hopefully mirroring what i do on my onside. however, i am still struggling to gain x-grain momentum or speed and frequently end up at the bottom of the eddy, or worse, floating backwards out of the back of the eddy.

i paddle a spanish fly, which is a slow boat... but surely can still gain x-river momentum with it eh?

brockers

The approach is critical. You are much better off approaching from too high than having to ferry into the gate. The ideal angle depends on the current and eddy strengths but a good rule of thumb is to approach the gate at a 45 degree angle with as much speed as possible. (But only if you're under control doing it.) The idea is to minimize speed loss through the gate.

As I approach the gate, my last strokes are on my offside so that the boat doesn't turn to early.

Come in on an offside duffek, planting the paddle just outside the gate.

Let the boat swing around the plant while sliding the paddle around the inside pole,

Continue sliding the paddle forward, either to start a forward stroke or into a draw to finish the boat's turn.

one thing too is to try to jump your knees into the eddy plane. as in almost do a boof stroke throwing your body into the eddy, and have your eyes ahead of where you want your bow to end up. as in if you enter the eddy at a 45 degree angle, have your eyes up and way around your shoulder so that you can already see the exit point as you enter the eddy. and just think about driving that inside knee (offside knee) into the eddy, you can keep on the power strokes.
one mistake that is often made is to try to initiate the draw stroke before the mass of the boat has crossed the eddy line. fully let the bow catch, and then plant the stroke fully in the eddy.
for offside ferries, you still just have to hammer away, and you can switch back to your onside. for instance when doing a forward ferrry across the currrent, you only need to have that offside lean on the entrance to the current. not the whole way down, which may help you get back to the onside and gain more speed.
I hope this is somewhat helpful, anyhow.
cheers
-isaac

brockers wrote:advice saught re- offside break outs....

i paddle a spanish fly, which is a slow boat... but surely can still gain x-river momentum with it eh?

brockers

no problem

have you tried doing an upstream lean upon exiting/crossing the eddy line...you will be able to carve on the upstream edge... and the force of the water trying to turn you over, can be captured and used to your advantage

....a little practice doing upstream leans while ferrying is probably advisable....

the upstream lean can be done with or without going to the offside, a cross high brace - draw (combo) is good insurance for the first couple...but not really required...in no time at all, you'll be going further across the river that ever before,using this method...most of the time I stay on my on side these days, exiting right of left... the lean can be so slight, that almost no one will notice ; however go ahead and do a noticeable lean and then refine to the lean as you get it down

... actually when doing this move to the offside and still paddling onside, the last stroke will be further up the eddy than ever before...nail that last stroke, lean up, and hang on that edge ... it's quick... a sweep (upstream) will keep you from flipping, and a slight trailing rudder will pull a fading angle back upstream

good luck

cheers guys.
the up-stream lean thing sounds interesting..
will have to give it a try.

brockers.