I don’t have any pics or vids yet, but I have to spill the beans. You know how I’ve launched some fun innovations in XC skiing? Well, I’ve worked out my own nifty canoe-paddling stroke! It’s the family-friendly “windmill.”
When you’re canoeing with extra people in a boat (sitting between the paddlers) you don’t want to bonk them or drip water on them when you change sides paddling, right?
So what you do instead is flip the paddle overhead while keeping hold of the end-grip. Then change grips once it’s in the water on the other side. I can easily do hut-style quick-switch paddling this way. Keep the blade a bit behind your head as you do the swing-over, so wind doesn’t blow any drips too far.
I’ve even taken to using it when paddling just tandem. It feels good. This way there’s no risk of bonking gunnels or anything at all in the switch.
It might not work so hot in a windstorm, but otherwise, it’s fun and dandy and I’ve never seen it taught before. So I’ll claim it unless someone shows me a link to how-to info that beat me to it.
