Some OC-Derived Advice for Progressive C1 Learners
Following on from my previous article, here’s some more stuff I’ve learned, a lot of it from paddling open rather than closed cockpit canoes.
6) It’s all in the hip action.
A large amount of running OC1’s dry (and equally keeping your C1 as a stable as possible), is in getting the hull of the boat flat to the green water, whilst keeping your weight balanced over it, this just requires you to flex fluidly at the hips, easier said than done.
7) If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and eventually reconsider your outfitting.
Perseverance is important to improving your paddling, but if you’re trying something and finding that it goes wrong every time, consider whether your outfitting is hindering (or failing to help) a certain technique. When it is, you can decide to alter the outfitting, or to adjust your technique to account for it. You may find that during your initial progression, you outfitted your boat to suit a style you’ve since grown out of.
8) Practice makes Permanent
Be aware that you will habituate things, so don’t routinely use sloppy or lazy technique when you’re paddling water that you’re already confident on.
9) Chaaaaaaarge!
Because canoes don’t have quite the same acceleration as kayaks, it pays to be forward of centre and putting your torso in line with your strokes to eke out every last drop of power, this is a very aggressive position, and relies on placing a succession of good dynamic strokes to support oneself.
10) Company, Halt!
Learning to slow down and stop is essential to remaining in control, else you eventually end up stacking it trying to avoid other paddlers in the middle of rapids. Eddying out is the simplest way to lose speed, but once you learn to do the reverse J-stroke (it’s easier to learn in a long traditional canoe and transfer to a C1) it will revolutionise your paddling, being able to slow down, or stop in the current, along with back ferrying gives you another set of options for tackling rapids.
5.1) Paddle with canoeists (if you want to be this good)
Whilst paddling with kayakers is a very good way to push one’s ability, the occasional paddle with another c-boater often helps to refine technique and spot the causes of canoe specific problems.
