Braces vs. Forward Strokes for stability

rainfoot · Post by **rainfoot** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:27 pm

There have been a couple of times I swam when, after the fact, I somehow felt if I would’ve used a hard forward stroke instead of a brace I would’ve been OK. Am I imagining this, or are there times when you should not brace, you should paddle?

Post by **sbroam** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:46 pm

Full speed ahead!

KNeal · Post by **KNeal** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:02 am

A hard forward stroke is basically a high brace. It can save you from a flip, but learn the stroke so as to keep from wrenching your shoulders. It has saved me from getting my hair wet on many occasions.

KNeal

Lennart · Post by **Lennart** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:53 am

power on the blade. Is most of the times the way to go. the deeper your paddlle is the more pressure there it, if there is pressure on the blade you can use it to move your boat in all 3 dimensions.

jakke · Post by **jakke** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:05 am

When you paddle, you can controll, when you brace you are at the mercy of the river... .
A hard foward stroke is a brace, but also gives you a chance to build up speed and/or controll your angle. If you drift down, bracing, you might survive the first nastyness, but the second or third will have an even better chance to tip you and your boat.

Todhunter · Post by **Todhunter** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:11 pm

I am learning to paddle instead of brace in most situations. It's often better to be proactive (forward stroke) instead of reactive (brace).

If you feel like you don't know what you're doing in the middle of a rapid, and there is lots of crazy white water around you, paddle paddle paddle paddle!!!!

It makes it look like you know what you're doing - ask me how I know!

KNeal · Post by **KNeal** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 3:26 pm

Todhunter wrote:ask me how I know!

Okay, I'll take the bait first.

How you know?

KNeal

Lennart · Post by **Lennart** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:26 pm

no not paddle paddle paddle.
1 good stroke takes a bit more time. but is much more effective.

Todhunter · Post by **Todhunter** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:08 pm

KNeal wrote:
Todhunter wrote:ask me how I know!
Okay, I'll take the bait first.

How you know?

KNeal

At first I was getting up a little speed before a rapid, then I would stop paddling and prepare to brace, and just ride through the feature. I was paying for it by swimming. Now, with the help of fellow paddlers, I have been remembering to continue making forward strokes and staying in control of the boat through the feature, and it has resulted in less swims.

I understand what you are saying, Lennart, but I am a beginner and am still working on getting down "one good stroke" - until then, I make up for it with lots of mediocre strokes. It's baby steps for me - at least I haven't grabbed a gunwale in a long time. Now that I'm making forward strokes, I can focus on making those strokes better and count for more. I am aware that my strokes right now are too long. I am trying to keep them short, but in the heat of the moment in a large feature, I forget all that and start to make long strokes, because I am so focused on staying upright. But I'm getting better...

At ALF and last weekend on the Nantahala, I was commended by the more experienced people I was paddling with that I looked good through most of the rapids. I do feel like I am progressing with each trip.

And despite the incredibly high number of swims on each trip, I absolutely LOVE the Maxim!