art of letting go
Posted by derrick on April 10, 2008
JB of Milwaukee shows off a draw
This always cracks me up. The first time I ever rolled because I actually HAD to roll was the result of being silly. I was doing a simple draw or as I like to say, “pulling my boat sideways”, and I brought my paddle in right next to my hull and SPLOOOSH! I didn’t know the solution to that little predicament was the simple art of letting go!
When we are first learning to paddle we soon discover that there are mermaids hiding under our boats waiting to pull us over. It’s always when we bring our paddle right up next to our hull and suddenly their mischievous side appears. Of course, what’s really going on is opposite forces are working against the boat and the paddle. When moving our boat sideways the boat is going in one direction and are paddle the other. Suddenly it comes to the side of our boat and stops. The force of the moving kayak has to go somewhere. If we just leave our paddle there, we’re going swimming. We essentially “trip”. In time of course we learn to keep the blade out a bit and we become adept at slicing it out of the water before that force takes over. Sometimes though we can still find ourselves wrestling with the mermaids. The solution is simple. So simple that you feel like a fool when you learn it; Let go. Yup, just release your top hand from the paddle and let it go its own way for a moment. When you release the top hand the paddle will then pivot on your lower hand and take the pressure off. You are then free to sign a refrain of, “How Dry I am!”.
I remember well the first time I did that little sideways thing … it was quite a suprise as I recall! Doing a quick “bow jamb” will get you the very same result.
ok, I’m a dope. What’s a bow Jamb?
Like a hanging draw, only up against the gunwale. I think I read about it in the BCU handbook. Alex had me doing these last summer, I think he was trying to get me wet!
Alex does seem to like that getting people wet thing, doesn’t he?
(brain fried from overwork but maintaining keen grasp of obvious - yes!)
Bow jam - imagine bow draw, just put the paddle on the other side, could be called bow pry.
Another fun way to test limits is to do side slip (hanging draw) on the opposite side. Would it be called side jam /side pry
One more thing - when teaching side draw we emphasize open top hand. So, your post gives an excellent demonstration of what happens when the top hand is tight. I will definitely have to use it.
Ah, a bow pry got it. Ok. I think I was just missing the terms. The cross bow thing I was taught was called a “telemark turn” Which is basic the same thing I think your describing. Man, if were all on the water it would take 3 seconds!~ I think that’s why I like just saying “here’s what we are going to do. .. we’re going to put our paddle here, and make the boat go there. . ”
Here’s a clip of Andrew doing the bow jam… http://homepage.mac.com/aelizaga/iMovieTheater88.html
Some people do it as a cross bow move and others just shove the paddle in their armpit on the bow jam side and do it with one hand. Either way, it’s a pretty abrubt turn and if you don’t watch yourself, you can get tripped up real fast. For fun, you can try doing it at speed and then edging into the bow jam (not recommended if you want to stay dry).
It’s particularly effective with the GP and I’ve seen a variety of greenland paddlers (Cheri, Turner, etc.) use this move although I was personally taught it by local paddler Pete Kuhn.
Lately for fun, I’ve been messing around in my whitewater boats with really random strokes such as cross bow hanging draws while going backwards. It’s really interesting how far forward the draw point is since your weight is now at a different point relative to the direction of the traveling kayak.
ah, yeah the video helps.
you’re right if you don’t quite set the blade right you’d be swimming. 
I believe Bow Jam was a ’60’s rock band!
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