Draw Strokes on the Move (it’s all the same thing)

Always wondered why the various directional "draw" strokes were never taught this way to beginner paddlers from the outset - why no one ever clued me in to the fact that, “Hey, they’re all the same stroke!”  They all pull the boat towards your paddle.  After I was clued in to this, I would pass it along to other paddlers who sometimes had an "Aha!" moment.  

Best way to illustrate is the image below.  The only difference between the bow rudder (bow draw), stern rudder (stern draw), or side-slip (hanging draw) kayak strokes (all draw strokes) is where you place the paddle blade, up or down the line of the boat.  If you put the blade in up by the bow, it will pull the bow towards your paddle and therefore turn the boat that way. If you put it by the cockpit… it will pull the boat towards your paddle which moves the entire boat in a "side slip" from amidships so ideally the boat stays straight. Lastly, if you put the blade back towards the stern it will….you guessed it, pull the stern towards your paddle which effectively turns the bow the opposite way.  

Keys to executing any of these Draw Strokes include:

·         Get some speed – the stroke doesn’t work if you’re not moving forward

·         Place the blade fully in the water and hold it firmly in place

·         Angle the blade slightly outward to catch the moving water, this will pull your boat (and you) in the direction of the paddle

Hanging Draw Position

Bow Draw (Rudder) Position

Stern Draw Stroke in Action

Stern Draw Blade Angle position (but when executing, put paddle in more vertical position (raise offside hand) as shown in image to left)