Strokes & Techniques
Latest Strokes & Techniques
The Real Reason Why Paddling Progress Can’t Be Rushed
You don't become a master by rushing through the basics.
30 Essential River Running Skills
Want get more thrills out of your next whitewater run with less worry and hassle along the way? We’ve collected 30 essential river running...
6 Unusual Skills That Will Make You A Better Kayaker
Sea kayakers can be a serious bunch when the time calls for action, but those same paddlers spend time honing their skills through play,...
5 Ways Canoeing Can Help You Live Longer
I recently became a great aunt at the age of 33. Perhaps it’s because all my own great aunts are either gone or very elderly,...
3 Pros On How To Perfect Your Kayak Roll
Nothing is more confidence-inspiring than a reliable kayak roll. With good instruction many new paddlers learn the basics and roll on the first day....
Learn How To Predict Tidal Currents For Sea Kayaking
Ocean sea kayaking trips that take place in areas that are subject to significant tidal current activity require consultation of that area’s tidal current...
Learn The Sea Kayak Bow Draw
The bow draw, also known as the bow rudder, is an efficient and elegant turning stroke that provides remarkably fine control over the bow...
Learn How To Win At SUP Racing
When I discovered the SUP racing scene, I thought, “This is going to be a breeze.” I figured most racers wouldn’t be experienced paddlers,...
How To Do A Low Brace In A Canoe
The low brace is incredibly effective at preventing you from capsizing to your onside in a canoe. It allows you to reposition your body...
Get Swinging With The Canoe Cross-Forward Stroke
The cross-forward stroke is one of the most helpful strokes used by solo canoeists, even though it’s looked down upon by some traditionalists who...
Rescue A Swamped Canoe With The Capistrano Flip
When paddling without other boats nearby, a capsize means self-rescue. If close to shore, it may be possible to swim in, pulling your swamped...
2 Techniques To Successfully Roll A Tandem Kayak
In some quarters, tandem kayaking is synonymous with dull paddling and poor technique. But where is it written that tandems must be paddled conservatively?...
Win Your First Paddleboard Race
In the wake of paddleboarding’s growing popularity, hundreds of paddleboard races have sprung up across the nation. There are fun runs for charity, easy...
Yoga For Paddlers With Benny Marr (Video)
When I was 22, my lower back often flared up to the point I struggled to stand up straight. Sometimes first thing in the...
6 Easy Steps To Lift A Canoe By Yourself
The thought of tossing a 16-foot canoe over your head and down onto the base of your neck can be intimidating—until you’ve been schooled...
12 Tips For Troubleshooting Your Kayak Roll
Years ago, a buddy and I tied a couple of borrowed kayaks to his car and headed to the lake. Our mission was simple:...
8 Pre-Season Exercises For Kayaking (Video)
Eager to launch on the water as quickly as possible, we kayakers are regular offenders when it comes to skipping warm-ups and warm-downs. Too...
7 Common Paddling Injuries And How To Prevent Them
Ours is not a gentle sport. No matter how practiced and prepared you may be, a risk of injury exists around every rocky bend...
How To Paddle Your Canoe Silently
The beauty of silent paddling is just that—the silence. You can paddle along a stretch of shoreline at dusk with the only sound of...
Learn The Bow Stall Kayak Technique
Not only will the bow stall improve your balance and vertical boat control, it will also give you something to do in the eddy...
How To Solo & Tandem Back Ferry A Canoe
The back ferry is a great tool for navigating whitewater in a canoe. Unlike the front ferry where paddlers (or a solo paddler) face...
Master How To Sweep Roll A Kayak
Knowing how to roll isn’t a prerequisite to enjoy kayaking, but a dependable roll will transform your paddling experience. It will increase your confidence...
Canoe Skill: How To Read Whitewater
Choosing to run whitewater, and doing it successfully, can be a highlight on your next canoe trip. Jumping in over your head, however, can...
3 Steps To Stick The Balance Brace
The first sea kayakers devised the balance brace as a means of gaining stability in rough water and a way to stretch out their...
How To Run Small Drops In Your Kayak
For the best way to kayak small drops, look no further than the boof. Boofing lifts you clean off the lip of a drop...
5 Steps To Roll Your Tandem Canoe
For a fully outfitted tandem canoe with end and center air bags, rolling is the most efficient form of self-rescue and an invaluable skill...
Kayak Surf School: Learn The Basics Of Surf Kayaking
Being able to kayak surf can change even the simplest of rivers into a new playground, even one that you may have run many...
How To Avoid Freestyle’s 6 Most Common Mistakes
It’s easy for freestyle paddlers to get stuck in a hole of mediocrity, flailing awkwardly in a recirculating repertoire of chronic bad habits. Don’t let...
Master The Secrets Of The Seal Launch
Not all launch sites are gentle, sandy beaches. Sometimes, launching from a rock, a ledge or pier offers the best access to the water....
How To Choose The Right Kayak Sail
Kayak sails can help you travel faster while expending less energy. But for paddlers or pedalers, relying on the breeze for a boost opens...
Freestyle Move: How To Master The Blunt
Remember when you were a Boy Scout or Girl Guide and you worked hard to earn all those merit badges? There was a sequence...
Expert Tips To Solo Your Canoe (Video)
Solo your canoe so you can discover your own adventure while spending quality time alone in nature. From a practical standpoint, practicing solo canoeing...
Yoga For Paddlers With Benny Marr (Free Event)
We'd love you to join us online, Monday, June 28, 2021 for Yoga and Beers with Benny Marr.
In this free online event, we will...
The Key To A Perfect Paddling Stroke Is All In Your Head
Don’t think of moving water past the boat. Think of moving yourself and the boat past the paddle,” my instructor said during my first...
The Ultimate Training Program For Paddlers
Pro kayaker and personal trainer Heather Herbeck is here to help you improve your fitness and get the most out of the upcoming paddling...
How To Launch And Land A Canoe In Rough Water
It is possible to launch or land a canoe in waves and rough seas, however it’s best to avoid these conditions altogether by getting...
