Forward stroke
You may already know some strokes in canoeing, however, there is more to it than comes to the surface. (Canoeing pun intended. This is a canoeing site, after all).
When you first start canoeing, there really is only one stroke; the forward stroke. Simply, you hold the paddle with one hand by the yoke, and with your other hand half way down the shaft, you put the paddle in close to the front of the stroke and pull back towards you.
We have all gotten in a canoe with a friend or two and quickly learned that if everyone is only doing forward strokes, the canoe quickly drifts off course. Usually, some frantic side switching ensues, and some control of the craft is eventually regained. If you couldn't guess, there are other, better ways to control your vessel in all types of situations from, navigating open waters to pulling your canoe into a rocking landing. This is what we will cover in this article.
J-stroke
The J-stroke is an essential stroke to learn for anyone thinking of taking their canoeing to the next level.
This stroke is used primarily by the tiller (Person in the back) and is used to control the canoe.
Holding the paddle identical to the starting position of the forward stroke, enter the water and pull the paddle towards you. Once the paddle's blade has about reached your body, twist your wrist outward, causing the paddle blade to push water away from the side of the canoe. You will notice right away if you're doing it correctly because you should be able to feel the force of the J-stroke counter-acting on the canoe drifting in the opposite direction. However, if you overdo the J-stroke, the canoe will start to sail in the direction of the "J" motion, so don't overdo it.
J-stroke is arguably the most essential stroke in canoeing.
Sweep stroke
You can think of the sweep stroke as the opposite of the J-stroke. They don't really look similar at all, but they are used to counter-act opposite movements.
To execute a sweep stroke, enter the water at the front of the stroke, pulling the blade of the paddle outwards. Then as you pull through the stroke, move your arms in a large "C" motion. You will feel the resistance of the water, and the sweep stroke will push the canoe to the opposite side. This stroke can be used in conjunction with the J-stroke to move the craft in a straight line.
Draw stroke
The Draw stroke is used to pull the canoe sideways, either towards a landing side, dock or pulling up to another craft.
First, slow the crafts forward momentum. Then one or both paddlers first extent their paddles as far out as available towards the side of the vessel on the same side as each other. The paddle blade will start at a 45o angle to the side of the canoe. Then pull the water towards you, causing the canoe to draw closer to whatever you are making the pulling motion towards. Once the paddle blade comes right to the edge of the canoe, twist the paddle 90o to push it back towards its starting position for the next stroke. It should be cutting the water like a knife on the recovery step.
Often when people start using the draw stroke they will pull the paddle out of the water to return it to the starting position. There is nothing inherently wrong with this approach; however, it is more efficient to recover using the blade cutting technique. This creates fewer waves and may even end up being the factor that allows you to get closer to that snapping turtle without scaring it off.
Pry stroke
The Pry stroke is the opposite of the Draw stroke. First, place the paddles blade straight down parallel to the side of the canoe. Then push the paddle outwards, propelling the canoe in the opposite direction from the side you are pushing from. To reset the stroke, turn the paddle in the water on its edge, and cut through the water like a knife to return it to the starting position instead of completely pulling it out of the water.
This stroke comes in handy when taking off from the shore or a dock. It should also be used to avoid obstacles when approaching from the side.
Backwards stroke
This one might go without saying but is none the less important. Simply put the paddle in the water behind and to the side of you. Then push the water forward, propelling the craft backwards. This stroke is essentially a Forward stroke but in reverse.