Paddling TermsSalem OR Outrigger | Outrigger Ohana HoeOhana Hoe Salem OR

Common Paddling Mechanics Terms

The stroke - the mechanics of using the paddle to propel the canoe forward.
Note that you are not moving the paddle through the water. You are planting the paddle in the water and using your body to move the canoe to the paddle.
Catch / plant - Placing all of the blade in the water at a positive angle and then putting pressure on the blade.
Positive angle - When the blade of the paddle is completely in the water, the handhold of the paddle is tilting slightly towards you and the blade away from you.
Rotate - turning your torso from the hip so that your back and chest face the sides of the canoe. Paddling is referred to as a rotational sport. Like boxing and golfing, the power of the stroke is created by rotating the body from the hips. Rotate at the same time as reaching. See photo to right
Reach - hinge from hip at about a 55-degree angle with both arms fairly straight. Reach at the same time as rotating. Bends in the arm weaken the stroke. See photo to right.

Rotation - Chest and back turned toward the sides

Reach - the body is hinged at the hip

Pull Phase - applying power to the paddle to move the canoe forward.
Align - position joints so that they line up. E.g. the spine should be straight (vertebrae are stacked naturally) throughout the stroke, not curving left or right or forward. Nor should it twist. Joints of the leg that is in front should line up from the foot to the hip.
Engage core - Using back and ab (abdominal) muscles (together they are the core) to power the stroke.
Scapular muscles - The collection of muscles between your shoulder blades. Paddlers should emphasize use of these muscles during the stroke versus the pectoral muscles in the chest to keep shoulders stable and help prevent shoulder injuries.
Lats - latissimus dorsi (muscles that look like wings on your back) These muscles are important to creating a powerful stroke. Strong lats stabilize your spine. Pull ups, pull downs, swimming, rowing, and paddling strengthen these muscles.
Power / Application of power - A powerful stroke comes from using your body and muscles correctly to move the canoe quickly through the water.
More power (faster canoe) comes from increasing the level of engagement (i.e. flex / isometric contraction) in your leg, seat, core, upper back muscles (basically all muscles except your face and neck). Keeping your arms extended and body aligned allows the muscles to operate at maximum strength.
Return - with straight arms, use your hip to rotate the paddle back to start the catch again. Keep the return low by keeping the blade just above the water, almost skimming the water.
Flair – During the return, drop the top wrist to turn the blade to face the water. This helps keep the blade from catching wind and waves during the return.

Sit up - End result of powering the canoe forward by pushing with your foot and uncoiling your rotation. Sitting up in itself does not generate power. Does not happen until the end of the power phase.
Drive - using your feet and seat to push the canoe forward.
Blending / Timing – All paddlers in the boat are applying power in the water at the same time. Beginners learn the term “in together out together” meaning the blades of the paddles enter and exit the water at the same time. But as soon the paddlers learn the basics of paddling they move on to understanding that a powerful, fast moving canoe comes from all paddlers in the boat driving with their feet and seat and engaging their muscles at the exact same time. In the top teams, all 6 paddlers move in exactly the same way, same angles of their bodies and blades, etc.
Wobbly paddle – When your paddle wobbles around in the water during the stroke. This can happen when you are using too much of your arm muscles to force the stroke. Keep your arms straight while using the rest of the body to power the stroke. Make sure your fingers are strongly secured in the grip, including the baby finger which is important to activating the lats.

Common Instructions & Reminders to Paddlers While Paddling

22 – two power sets of 11 each side (22 strokes total). Same rate and seat 3 calls hut on stroke 10.
44 – four power sets of 11 strokes per side. Same rate and seat 3 calls hut on the stroke 10.•Huti – a single set of 15 power strokes, same rate.
Pine (pronounced Pee-nay) - faster, controlled stroke rate.•First 5 - power first 5 strokes of a change and then settle. Seat 1 counts out loud. This is intended as a timing check and a power surge
Up 2 - speed up stroke rate by 2 strokes per minute.
2 more inches - add more length to catch, originating from the hip rotation and shoulder position.•Long stroke - lengthen the stroke in water (“time in the water”).
Full blade - bury blade completely at the catch phase before the pull.
Flair your blade - drop top wrist to flair your blade across the water during recovery phase. Reduces wind resistance and slapping the water in rougher conditions.
Timing – all blades in together and out together. Perfect timing is best achieved when each paddler is a mirror image of each other during all phases of the stroke.
Easy - slow down stroke rate.•Maintain - keep current stroke rate.•Smooth – make the canoe glide, no bounce and responsive with each stroke.
Straight back - the pull phase is along the side of the canoe. The shaft of the paddle should be parallel to the water, not slanted away from the canoe.
Extend arms - bottom arm extended during reach for length and hand touching water for depth.
Rotate - rotate (not bend) forward at torso to reach for the catch.
Long in the water – We aim for 2 counts in the water for every 1 count out of the water. Your stroke in the water is strong, but patient.
Quick Return – When the blade is out of the water, the canoe starts to slow down. Idea is to get body back into position quickly to plant the blade again.
Relax the Return – The return is like a very brief rest period. Use the 1/3 of a second or so that your blade is out of the water to relax every muscle not needed as you rotate your hip forward again. Especially important is relaxing your grip on the paddle. It is also a good time to take a breath.
Race Start - most race starts, start off with strong strokes to lift the canoe and get it moving. Usually around 5. The next several strokes get progressively faster and stronger until you reach your desired speed. You may maintain this speed for two changes, and then settle into your steady rate. Each team will work together to find the combination that works for them.

Commands Used in Turning the Canoe in Sprint Races or Tight Turns

Uni - #1 paddler applies an poke on the non-ama side to help turn the canoe. This poke works exactly like a poke in the back of the canoe by the steer.
Kahi - term used in regattas to bring the front of the canoe around.
Poke - placing the paddle flat against the side of the canoe to turn.
Pry - pushing the blade away from the canoe.•J stroke - pulling the paddle toward canoe. reaching out away from the canoe to turn. Paddle angles may vary depending on turn or correction.
Over - “over” is called on a turn so that #1 paddle can switch sides to help paddler #2 Kahi, and bring the canoe around.
Out - after coming out of a turn the steers person may call “out,” which means for all paddlers to paddle forward at full power. Paddlers 1 & 2 may be helping to turn the canoe, and may be on the same side when this is called. They will paddle the canoe on the same side until the next change is called.