One of the perks of flatwater kayaking is the freedom to explore all angles of a body of water. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned kayaker, it is important to learn how to paddle a kayak properly to paddle more efficiently, and also be safe on the water.
Poor paddling techniques will tire you out much more quickly, and as a result may leave you less prepared to deal with dangerous situations. Practicing good paddling techniques will not only help you deal with challenging weather conditions, but also increase your speed and agility on the water. That said, here are the basics on how to paddle a kayak in solo and tandem mode.
How to hold a Kayak Paddle
A kayak paddle is what propels the vessel forward, and it is important to buy the right size paddle and hold it the right way to move quickly on the water with efficient non-fatiguing strokes. There are four things that come into play when learning how to hold a kayak paddle the right way.
- Knowing the type of paddle blades you have.
- Aligning the blades properly.
- Adjusting the area where your hands grip the shaft.
- Keeping your hands relaxed on the paddle shaft.
Type of paddle blades
Parallel vs. feathered – learning how to paddle a kayak is easier with the blades set parallel to each other i.e. in an un-feathered position. The blades of feathered kayak paddles are set at an angle to each other rather than straight, and can be easily adjusted to be parallel to each other via the push button and holes in the center of the shaft.
Asymmetrical paddle blades – paddle blades are asymmetrical when one side of each blade is a tad bit shorter than the other (which can be unnoticeable upon first glance). This blade design helps the paddle move straight rather than spin through the water. Then there are symmetrical blades, which, just like the name would suggest, are identical to each other.
Slightly concaved/curved blades – your kayak paddle in most cases is equipped with slightly curved blades, which allows you to travel through the water with more powerful strokes.
Learning how to paddle a kayak can be done with any of the aforementioned blade designs, but it is important to know which one you have.
Orienting the paddle blades
To align the paddle blades, hold in front of you and:
- Keep your large knuckles pointed upwards, and the blades at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the ground.
- If you have symmetrical blades, you can skip this part, but if not, you should place the shorter side of each blade on the bottom.
- This does not apply if you have completely flat blades, but if you don’t, set the concave side of each blade facing you.
In the event you don’t grab the paddle as mentioned above, simply flip it around until your hands and blades are aligned in your preferred position.
Adjusting your grip on the shaft
Grab the shaft of the paddle and rest its center-point over your head. Next, readjust your grip along the paddle’s shaft in such a way that your elbows are positioned at a 90-degree angle. When you now place the paddle in front of you, it will be in the right position, also known as the paddler’s box, which reduces risk of injury to your shoulders and fatigue on your arm muscles.
Maintaining the paddler’s box is highly important in order to rotate your torso correctly. Furthermore, maintaining this position will also give your body maximum rotation, which will result in physiological efficiency, proper body mechanics and increased power and speed on the water. Take note that this box moves along with the paddler as the body rotates, so you must rotate your body to maintain the paddler’s box position.
Relaxing your grip
A relaxed grip can go a long way to ease any discomfort when paddling, and also greatly reduces the chance of fatigue on your arms, wrists and hands. To achieve a relaxed grip, set your index finger and thumb in an “O” position around the shaft of the kayak. Next, rest your other fingers lightly on the shaft.
Kayak Paddling Strokes
Forward stroke – This is the most fundamental kayak paddling stroke and one that requires a fair bit of effort. Most of the work required for forward strokes is done with the help of your torso muscles, so begin by immersing either the left or right side blade on one side of the kayak next to your feet.
While maintaining a relaxed grip on the paddle, begin the forward stroke by leveraging your torso’s rotation to retract the paddle blade along the side of the kayak. As you pull the blades through the water, you will be able to use your lower body and feet to guide the kayak in the direction you wish to travel.
The stroke is completed once the paddle passes your hips, so simply remove the blade from the water and then insert the opposite blade in the water and perform your next paddle stroke. Repeat the aforementioned steps and you will find yourself accelerating forward smoothly through the waters.
Reverse stroke – The reverse kayak paddling stroke can be used to back up if you’ve stopped in the water, and is basically the exact opposite of the forward stroke. Using a good torso rotation, and while keeping your shoulders in the paddler’s box position, plant the blade in the water and initiate the backwards stroke. Take note that the reverse paddling stroke uses the back face of the paddle blades, so you do not need to need to spin or rotate it.
Final Thoughts
Once you get your feet wet with the basic techniques mentioned above on how to paddle a kayak, you can start practicing other paddling strokes such as the sweep stroke to turn the kayak and draw stroke to move the kayak sideways. Learning how to paddle a kayak the right way is important to maintain speed, efficiency and safety in the water, and needless to say will help you reach exactly where you want to go.