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The blade begins
nearly flat on the water, at only a slight planing angle to keep the blade
from plunging. As the torso rotates and brings the paddle forward through
the water, the angle of the blade changes, becoming nearly vertical by
the time the paddle is perpendicular to the kayak (again, just as in a
standard reverse sweep). The planing angle can be adjusted throughout
the stroke for greater support, as necessary.
With the support provided by the stroke, you can lean the boat easily
throughout the turn: the greater the lean, the quicker the turn. At the
end of the arc, as if doing a sculling stroke, uncock the wrists to rotate
the paddle so that what was the trailing edge becomes the leading edge.
Now skim the blade, power-face down, back over the water toward the stern.
Then cock the wrists to rotate the paddle, and sweep forward again. Repeat
until the turn is completed.
Like the low-brace turn with a standard reverse sweep, the high-brace
turn with a Power-Face Reverse Sweep is a braking turn-that is, forward
momentum slows, then stops after the turn is initiated.
The stroke does not have to be preceded by a high-brace turn to be effective.
If a high-brace turn (which assumes forward momentum) is used to initiate
the maneuver, the brace and sweep result in a braking turn and will stop
you; but, the turns are often nearly 180 degrees, so I am reversing direction
anyway, in most cases.
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