Paddlers have a wide variety of choices to employ in their arsenal of paddle strokes. There's the forward stroke, the draw stroke, and the j-stroke to name just a few. One thing all of these strokes have in common is their anatomy. That's right. No matter what paddle stroke you use in a canoe or kayak, they all have the same parts.
The anatomy of every paddle stroke consists of three phases. First there's the catch phase which is followed by the power phase and then by the recovery phase. While each type of stroke may require the kayaker or canoeist to vary a part of one or all of these phases, the phases still exist. Let's take a look at each phase of a paddle stroke.
The Anatomy of a Paddle Stroke
- The Catch Phase
The catch phase of a paddle stroke refers to the part of the stroke when the paddle enters the water. During the forward stroke, the catch phase entail placing the paddle in the water as far forward alongside the canoe or kayak as the paddler can. The face of the paddle enters the water perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. - The Power Phase
The power phase of a paddle stroke refers to the main part of the stroke during which all of the power is generated. It is during the power phase that the canoe or kayak is actually pulled through the water. This phase is also known as the propulsion phase. - The Recovery Phase
The recovery phase of a paddle stroke refers to the end of the stroke when the paddle is removed from the water and the beginning of the setup for the next stroke. Proper form during the recovery phase will facilitate the execution of the next stroke.
Knowing these three phases of a paddle stroke will help you learn the various different strokes by breaking them down into their respective parts.
