Braces and Rolling Notes

thanks Mike for this write-up

Expert Sea Kayak Coaching From Washington DC

Low Brace  (Standing)

 Roll wrists forward so Power Face is UP

 Lean to the side you are bracing

Keep paddle (bar) horizontal with elbows at 50%

Push flat blade down into the water (don’t slap)

Push down until you hear the percussion sound

Roll wrists back so blade becomes perpendicular/vertical to the water

 Lift paddle blade out while doing a hip snap

Head should end up looking at the water where blade came out

  

Low Brace (On the Go)

 Everything is the same as above, except that instead of pulling the paddle blade straight up out of the water, spoon it forward to accommodate for your movement.

  

High Brace

Roll wrists back and raise paddle to a monkey bar position with Power Face DOWN

 

Which ever side you’re bracing to, that thigh should come up (hip snap) to meet the         blade (i.e. If bracing to the right, the Power Face comes down to the water, while          the right thigh should be snapping to meet the blade)

Head should be down looking at them meet

 ** Keep opposite elbow tucked in**

 

C to C Roll

 Position 1

             Wrists are rolled forward with the paddle along the left side of boat

Position 2

            Holding Position 1, extend your arms (and paddle) as far as you can to ensure that            your paddle is out of the water.

 Position 3  (Forming the Left “C”)

 

            While rolling wrists back, bring the paddle to the “monkey bar” position over the left side of the boat.

 

            Left hand should be under your butt and push up with the right hand (idea is to    get the right paddle blade out of the water)

 

            **Remember: wrists have to be back so that the Power Face is horizontal to                     the water**

             From Position 3, form the Right “C”            by performing a High Brace

             Sinc the hip snap with the right thigh meeting the right paddle blade.

             **Head must stay down, with Left elbow tucked in (like holding a tennis ball   in your arm pit)**

 

            Head should remain down, looking where the paddle came out of the water

  

Practice Drill:

             Perform C to C with a paddle float attached to one blade.

Twisting Sweep Roll

             Positions 1 and 2 are the same for C to C.

             Rolling wrists back, stretch out and perform a sweep stroke from the bow to the   stern

 

            Wrists must be back so that blade has a slight upward angle (5 degree) and skims   across the water (If blade is too flat, it might “dig in.” If  blade is too   perpendicular, it kills your momentum.)

 

            **Hip snap begins at separation** 

 

            As the sweep progresses to the stern, lay back to facilitate the roll

 

            Keep your eyes following the sweeping blade to ensure that your head stays down

  

Practice Drill

 

            Instead of the Twisting Sweep Roll, perform the ____________ Roll, where you   place your left hand on the end of the left paddle blade, with your right hand “just        left” of the paddle joint. (Then do the steps for the Twisting Sweep Roll). Wean down to an extended TSR, and finally a st