Golden Principles of Paddling

Etcha-sketch - Both hands should be over the water, a lot.  This is for forward and back strokes, starting the stern pry, ending the stern draw, duffek, draws, etc.

Vertical Paddle - (As seen from the front of the boat)  Your paddle should be vertical on your power strokes, (forward and back strokes).  This means both hands over the water.  (This is a repeat of the first Golden Principle above-it is important.

Horizontal Paddle - (As seen from the side)  Your paddle should be horizontal when doing turning strokes, such as sweeps, stern prys, and stern draws.   This means that the top hand is dropped down, but still remember the etch-a-sketch.

Quiet Paddle - Your paddle should not make any noise or have big swirling eddies behind the blade.  If it does, work on feeling the blade and the water and feel for paddle stick.

Quiet Boat - Your boat should be held steady and not move around when your upper body moves around.  You are working towards steady boat tilt/heel and control.

Practice - Practice quality, not quantity.  Do things slowly and well and then build up speed.

Sit up Straight - (Posture) - This is a balance sport and you are able to maintain balance best by sitting up straight.

Rotate - Rotate your body with the stroke.  Another way of putting this is to link the paddle with your shoulders.  (Bob's Linkage Technique/Tip)

The Boat - The boat moves to the paddle.  Maybe the most difficult single concept.

Elbows - Keep your elbows close to your body.  If you are extending them, have a good reason, be careful of shoulder injuries and attempt a way to accomplish the same thing with the elbows in close to the body and not extended.

Cross Forward - Only do cross forward strokes when carving to your off side.

Nose/Tail Bone - Keep your nose over your tail bone.

Eddies - When going into an eddy, initiate too late, instead of too early.

Power to the Knee - Stop all, I repeat, all, I repeat, all power at the knee on a forward stroke.