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Techniques - February 2005 High-Bracing Drills by John Fereira
Bracing is a skill that many intermediate paddlers learn once they’ve grasped the basic power and steering strokes. Although there are several bracing techniques, the two typically performed are the low brace and the high brace. These two techniques can be used in a variety of paddling situations and can provide support in rough conditions and when the boat is edged over aggressively for quicker turning. The low brace is often learned first, as it’s a bit more instinctive and the transition from a normal paddling stroke to the low-brace position is easier. A low brace works well if the boat is only tipped at a fairly shallow angle and is not completely off balance. However, if the boat has tipped to such a degree that capsizing is imminent, a high brace is much more effective for preventing or even recovering from a capsize. In this article, I’ll discuss bracing in the context of its use as a recovery stroke (from a potential capsize) and suggest some exercises or drills that may help improve your high brace. Hands and Faces Before proceeding any further, a bit of terminology is required. When any paddle stroke or skill is performed, there’s an inboard hand and outboard hand. The outboard hand refers to the hand closest to the paddle blade used to perform a stroke. For example, if I were to take a forward stroke on the right side of the kayak, the outboard hand would be my right hand. The inboard hand would be my left hand, the hand farthest from the blade in the water, the working blade. In describing the paddle blade, the “power face” is the face of blade that’s typically concave and faces the stern of the boat if you’re holding the paddle normally out in front of you. The opposite side of the paddle blade is referred to as the “back face.” To set up properly for a high brace, your wrists are positioned above the elbows such that the power face of the working blade is parallel and facing the water surface (just prior to actually making contact). As the boat goes off balance, the power face of the working blade works against the water resistance to provide support to allow you to perform a hip snap and bring the boat back to a stable position. One of the most important elements of a high brace is keeping your elbows in close to your body and low. If you allow your outboard elbow to come up above your shoulder and behind your head, you’re exposing your shoulder joint and making it vulnerable to a dislocation. Be very careful when performing the drills here to keep your elbows forward and below your head, as shown in Image 1.
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