This is part three of a three part series on paddling a canoe. Part One | Part Two
Once you understand the phases of canoe strokes and the proper form for executing the forward stroke and J-stroke, you’re ready to learn the proper form and execution for the draw stroke. Here are some guidelines.
Like the J-stroke, the draw stroke is also used to correct a canoe’s direction while it is moving. The J-stroke can be executed by the paddler in the bow or stern of the canoe as a way to correct or compensate for the direction of the canoe. Also, the draw stroke is one of the most important strokes to know and ironically one that many recreational canoeists don’t use because they’ve never heard of it. You can tell the canoeists who don’t know about the draw stroke’s existence because they’re the ones who keep switching from side to side as they paddle. If they knew about they draw stroke, they wouldn’t have to keep switching sides in order to keep their canoe moving straight and forward. With the draw stroke, you begin by pulling the canoe to the side and as your paddle gets close to the canoe you rotate it into a forward stroke.
Good form means you are sitting up straight and correctly holding your canoe paddle. Raise your paddle up with your top hand at about head level while keeping the shaft of the paddle out to the side. As you bring the paddle up and out of the water, rotate the paddle’s blade parallel to the canoe as you are going to try to pull the paddle toward the canoe. During the draw stroke’s catch phase push your lower hand further out to the side and front of your position, reaching your paddle’s blade as far away from the canoe as you can while maintaining a good upright position. Then place the blade into the water parallel to the boat.
The next phase of the draw stroke is the draw phase. Just as its name implies, you are drawing the paddle toward the canoe. With your paddle close to the canoe twist it so that the paddle’s blade is perpendicular to the canoe. Now you’re set up for the power phase of the draw stroke which entails pushing your paddle’s blade back like you would on a forward stroke. Be sure to use your torso and upper body rotation to power your stroke. Remove the paddle and start the same process again. It’s important to remember that the draw phase and power phase of the draw stroke should flow as though they are one stroke. If you were viewing this stroke from above, it would look like the opposite of the J-stroke.
What many recreational canoeists find most difficult about canoeing is paddling in tandem. The paddler in the stern is the one who controls your canoe’s direction. This is why the more experienced paddler should be in the stern. Good communication and good form is required for the bow and stern paddlers to move their canoe forward and in a straight path with each paddler paddling on opposite sides of the canoe. When both paddlers understand and can properly execute the forward stroke, J-stroke and draw stroke, they’ll alleviate the need to switch sides so often.
