Efficient Sea Kayak Forward Paddling Technique

A brief look at the fundamentals of an efficient forwards paddling stroke in Sea Kayaking. Forwards paddling is the most important technique we have and it's always worth focusing and developing further... After 20 years of paddling, I'm still tweeking, developing and changing things in my own forwards paddling stroke and the learning definitely never stops and this short video highlights just a few of the basics.

Forwards Paddling technique is the thing we do the most and developing it can really make the difference in being able to paddle further, more powerfully and to build that extra reserve when the wind picks up, when we want to make an open crossing, or spend the extra time playing in a tide race of in the Surf.

It's often a stroke we overlook as it's complex, but it's also something we can always come back to on those easy days on the lake or the Sea and for us living far away form the Sea it means we can really make the most of our trips there.

Thanks for watching and please let us know your thoughts,
Cheers,
Dave
Hightide, Switzerland

[christophercelentano]

This is probably the best forward stroke instructional I have ever seen. In the 16 years I have been instructing, this is the closest I have ever seen to the stroke that I teach my students. Extremely well done, simply explained, and easy to apply! I will certainly be adapting some of the techniques in this video to my clinics.

[ClayTallStories]

Brilliant No BS Instructions. I Kayak fish on my channel and you were referred to me from my subbies. Thank you

[chrisredlich]

Wow. Finally. That was what I am looking for. Thanks a lot for this perfect tut.

[mmcholm]

Excellent tutorial. Instructors take note! Beautifully demonstrates the "forward hand across the horizon" concept, torso rotation and pressure on the foot peg. It's a high angle forward stroke demo but the same principles apply for low angle recreational sea kayaking/kayak touring. Some nice tips for teaching.

[grigoir]

Wow, so clear and helpful

Thank you

[garyoksanen]

Thanks! This is a great help! G. Oksanen, Canada

[jaykingsun]

Excellent, clearly explained. This is going to help me heaps as a beginner.

[blauzeuch]

Very, very helpful! I'm not very experienced and this made some important things clear. Thank you.

[jamesiversen]

Fantastic demonstration and instruction. Thank you!

[jay]

I am very much a beginner and truly appreciate you taking time to help those of us with less knowledge to learn.
Keep up the great work and I shall be watching your videos!

[kayasper]

Very nice and clearly video, you certainly put some work in it.

[jezmarshall]

Superbly explained and filmed - a no naff music too. How instructional videos should be made!

[tuberider]

thanks for a great educational resource

[peterflynn]

There is always room for improvement - thanks for the video

[BarryWalstead]

Great video, nice demonstrations and explanations.

[step]

Thank You! This video is very helpful and great.

[HEADCASE]

Absolutely brilliant tutorial!
Iv just started learning to paddle a sea kayak so this is perfect 👍

[dr.davidericboll]

Small tip, in your surfski, angle your pedals back a notch, your demo of technique results in back and forth steering input.

[kayakchilomingo]

Excelente maestro, muy clara la explicación, gracias!

[crozatier]

Great video. A video series around the basics of paddling would do very well on Youtube if shot and presented in this way. Frankly just hour long videos of Dave's beautiful paddling stroke would do me! Seriously though, besides Ivan Lawler (UK) and Oscar Chalupsky (SA) nobody is doing this well. And the production values of this vid, if rolled out across a full series would be huge.