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Braces employ the paddle blade as a stabilizer to allow the paddler to regain balance and prevent a capsize. The two primary braces that kayakers rely on for stability are the low brace and the high brace.
This article is an introduction to these two main braces. These strokes are easy to learn and open the door to a large number of alternative uses of the paddle blade for stability.
The Low Brace
Look carefully at the photo of the low brace at right. Notice how the paddler is pushing his flat paddle blade down against the water. By pushing against the water, the paddler can bring the boat back to an upright position and avoid a capsize.
The amount of force that can be generated by pushing a flat paddle blade against the water's surface is remarkable. It is this force, utilized by the low and high brace, that provides the stability.
First Try
To get a feel for braces before you get in your boat, try this simple exercise. Pick up your paddle and sit on the edge of a low dock, or wade waist-deep from a sandy beach.
Grip your paddle as you normally do, with the wrist that controls feathering (usually your right wrist) projecting at a right angle to that paddle blade's power face. This hand and wrist should never move on the paddle shaft.
Now let's practice a low brace on the right side (if you use
left-hand control, practice on the left side). Hold the paddle shaft at waist height with the right blade aligned flat with the water, back face down.
You'll need to point the knuckles of your right hand down and keep your elbows up, like the paddler in the photo at right.
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Now push the back face down against the water until the blade is submerged. Feel the resistance? Bracing strokes utilize this force to provide stability.
The Twist
Once the blade is submerged, try to keep it flat and pull it back out of the water. You'll notice that there is resistance to removing the blade up, as well.
Unfortunately, this force is not stabilizing -- in fact, it pulls you off-balance and could cause a capsize. Therefore, you must twist the paddle blade until it is vertical before removing it from the water.
Submerge the blade again, making sure the blade is flat with the water. Now twist your controlling wrist back until the knuckles point forward. The paddle blade should now be vertical.
Once vertical, the paddle blade can easily slice out of the water if you pull straight up to the surface. Now try the whole motion again: submerge the flat blade, twist the wrist, and slice the blade out. This stroke is the low brace.
To see a series of photos documenting each step of the low brace, click here.
In Your Boat
Once you've practiced on "dry land," get in your kayak and try it on the water. First, simply practice the motion while sitting, perfectly balanced, in your boat.
Try using the other paddle blade as well, making sure that blade is flat on the water when you begin. You'll need to rotate your controlling wrist to align the blade, but never change your grip on the paddle shaft.
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