Deeper into the offside-eddy

[Fauxlaf]

Hi,
i'm working to get deeper into the offside eddy. In my riverrunner i always use a cross sweep. That works always very good to avoid being turned to early by the eddycurrent. In my cfs it's most times not enough. And it turns me around near the seamline. At the moment i try an onside pry. That works better but slows me down more than an offside sweep does. Any hints?
Thanks in advance
Fauxi

[Sir Adam]

Try working on speed and angle you cross the seam, then a proper lean, to get in to the eddy as deep as you'd like. It is more about boat control than paddle strokes IMhO.

With practice in easy / moderate eddys you can pop right in without a paddle stroke at all.

[marclamenace]

Try working on speed and angle you cross the seam, then a proper lean, to get in to the eddy as deep as you'd like. It is more about boat control than paddle strokes IMhO.

With practice in easy / moderate eddys you can pop right in without a paddle stroke at all.

Ditto on that!

I also used to get that problem; was getting too close to the eddy line trying not to miss it, then you have less space for strokes and too much of a downstream momentum as well. So try to go slow, same speed than the current, head for the eddy at a good angle before and put one single powerful cross stroke towards the eddy to minimize the time you boat stays half in (getting twisted by the eddy line) and then boat tilt control should do it, using your paddle to correct only if needed. The more tilt you give the more it turns.

[Larry Horne]

best thread title ever

[Bob P]

I almost always cross the eddy line changing to (or already on) a cross-forward stroke to prevent turning too early. Finish up with a stern draw.

Technique Video

[oopsiflipped]

best thread title ever

yeah, i thought it was going to be way more cosmic.

but, and i haven't really read the more technical responses, maybe the problem is the cfs. galen 'coldwater' had one for a while and i think it was one of the all time worst conversion c1's. about 2 minutes in the pool in that thing and it took me a year or more to try c1 again.

[Rand C1]

It takes alot of practice, but you have to paddle both sides of the river. So, you got to come out from your off side over and over and over. Having a strong cross bow stroke is not a bad thing.
Rand

Sorry, I was thinking ferrying out from your offside, also an important skill, never mind.

[FullGnarlzOC]

Pierce through the eddy line, while having an upstream turn initiated as you cross it. Lean into the eddy. Reach into the eddy with ur paddle, and grab the slow water.

Observe how the water makes the boat react, and use it to ur advantage, basically what Adam was saying. When your done u won't need strokes. Although, a few key power strokes + 1 finesse will create a really snappy eddy turn, that you can depend upon anywhere.

Try to stay away from prys. It will make u a better paddler.

Good luck. And remember... practice practice practice. anytime anywhere.

[yarnellboat]

At first I thought you meant in onside bow pry, which would be a bold way to snap into the eddy, but didn't make sense in this context, since it's the opposite of an offside sweep. Confused yet?

An offside sweep isn't the strongest stroke, and you shouldn't have to fight your own eddy turn. Ideally, offside power would be better than the sweep or the onside stern pry. So, try I little less angle as you approach, and depending on angle, build some speed with power strokes on either side just to pop you across the eddy line. Just a couple of crisp tugs.

Also, the stern pry may be OK as long as you work to clean it up - keep it very short & crisp near to the hull, don't let become anything like reverse sweep!

You'll need to balance how these power strokes affect your eddy angle. If you could use more angle on your approach, use onside power to open things up a bit, if your worried about turning too early, use offside power (and sweep if you must). Finish on the offside draw or power.

Getting deeper into the eddy probably has as much to do with speed than anything else. Keeping your boat tilt flatter will also help you go deeper.

Pat.

p.s.
FG, Thanks for not recommending the xJ - twisting yourself that way will not make you a better paddler!

[FullGnarlzOC]

no it wont. ur right.

[jscottl67]

I like throwing a duffolk across the line and pivoting the boat around it, but depends on the width of the eddy line and how much speed I'm carrying in.

[yarnellboat]

Agreed, more speed and a duffeck sounds like the way to go here - that's what I meant, using way more words.

Pat.

[philcanoe]

Like everything worth doing in this world... there's simply not just one way.

[Shep]

Shameless threadjacking:

I think it's silly to teach people the Duffek. Just teach them to do the things they need to do: Accelerate on your line towards the eddy, Tilt the boat, Plant your paddle in a draw position to aid the turn, Turn it into a forward stroke to really pull yourself in.

The ACA Level 4 WW Canoe Course Outline lists 26 different strokes (although they aren't organized as consistently as they could be). If you want to teach people strokes, teach them the basics, then teach them to modify them as needed!

</threadjack></soapbox>

Thanks,
Shep

[yarnellboat]

Plant your paddle in a draw position to aid the turn, Turn it into a forward stroke to really pull yourself in

And isn't that particular blending of strokes what some people would call a duffeck?

Pat.