ThePADDLER 4
R AY
G O O D W I N ’ S
SURFING R I V E R W A V E S A C A N O E Words and photos: Ray Goodwin It’s fun, it ups the skill level and allows you to move across the river more efficiently. Many of the skills transfer directly to running down a lake in a strong tail wind.
It is hard learning the skills on anything but the smallest wave. On bigger stuff it will feel so quick, so hectic to the novice learner, that it is difficult to apply technique. As an alternative we can use any solid flow and get a friend to hold the canoe in place on a rope: therefore we don’t need a wave. Here we can begin to master the necessary paddle strokes. The canoeist is at a disadvantage over the kayaker. The kayak can quickly and efficiently switch sides, so for the most part only uses the ‘push away’ part of the stern rudder. On a fast wave the canoeist will only steer on one side of the boat and must use the ‘push away’ and ‘draw’ elements of the stern rudder. It can even be practised standing in the water.
Held on rope
I N
