What about turning from a full stop? So far I've described the Power-Face Reverse Sweep only in combination with a high-brace turn, which requires forward momentum; but, like the reverse sweep, the technique is a useful turning stroke by itself-an alternative to, not a replacement for, the reverse sweep. The paddler is simply doing a reverse sweep from a high-brace position, gaining greater leverage and greater support than in the low-brace position.
When repeated multiple times, the technique has some similarities to sculling for support. Both share a figure-eight motion but, in this sweep, the figure-eight has little depth and is far more elongated: As the blade nears the bow, the stroke becomes a bow pull from a high-brace position, causing the bow to side-slip in the direction of the turn. At the end of the sweep, a wrist flick flips the paddle blade over as it leaves the water, and the trailing edge again becomes the leading edge. Instead of coming back into the water, however, the blade skims lightly over the surface toward the stern to start another sweep.
Once you have the kayak pointed in the direction you want to go, you can easily make a transition to a forward stroke at the end of the sweep-similar to the bow draw/forward stroke combination-to get the kayak moving again in the new direction.
I am surely not the first paddler to have hit upon this technique, although I haven't seen the technique presented as such in any class or publication. I have seen different elements of it presented by different instructors, but not the technique as a whole or as a stand-alone stroke. I'm not sure why-it seems too useful to overlook.
See what you think. With some practice, depending on the kayak, you should be able to reverse the direction of the kayak in three or four strokes. You should find that, even with quite a bit of lean, you have great support, you are in a strong recovery position, and the turn is quick and reliable, even in rough water. It's also fun. Give it a try.