This topic title is an obvious truism to me, but others seem to consider learning multiple boat control techniques to be optional or even frivolous.
Well, I'll just describe my experience and state my opinions, mainly with respect to solo canoeing. Others can do the same, either agreeing or disagreeing or smoothing off my sharp edges, since this topic is intended to P.O just about everyone.
Observation 1: Too many people who propel canoes, even for decades, don't really know how to paddle at all.
Observation 2: Too many decent flatwater paddlers have little ability to control a canoe in strong river currents, much less in serious whitewater.
Observation 3: Too many competent whitewater paddlers don't have sophisticated flatwater canoe control strokes. This can include even basic flatwater correction strokes. And some of these whitewater hotshots project a false arrogance.
Observation 4: Too many competent flatwater hit & switch paddlers are not skilled in even one, much less the several, single-sided correction strokes.
Observation 5: Too many competent flatwater single-sided correction stroke paddlers are not skilled in, or appreciate the practical usage of, hit & switch paddling with lighweight bent shaft paddles.
Observation 6: Too many paddlers who paddle single stick limit themselves to being unidexterous paddlers on one side of the canoe only, instead of practicing all strokes and moves ambidexterously.
Observation 7: Too many paddlers restrict their paddling position in the canoe, and hence their available paddle strokes, to stern-only, centralized-only or cab-forward-only sitting or kneeling positions, instead of becoming competent from all all positions, with both sitting and kneeling, and with pitching the canoe bow up and bow down, and with heeling the canoe in both directions.
Observations 8/9: Too many paddlers who paddle single blade ignore the occasional benefits of double blade paddles, and vice versa.
Observations 10/11: So also for open and decked canoes, and vice versa.
Idealistic Conclusion: To be a maximally skilled canoeist, who can be maximally confident in all waters, and who can have maximal spice in a maximal canoeing life, one should learn to be proficient with all these types of canoes and paddles and positions, in all water venues and conditions, with all the relevant control strokes and moves. Of course, no one can really be a master of all these forms of canoeing. The one who came closest in my personal acquaintance was the late Harold Deal.
PRACTICAL CONCLUSION: At least take some lessons, and practice them, in canoe control techniques or hydrological conditions that are new or challenging to you.
In subsequent posts in this thread, I will focus on the practical conclusions of some of these 11 observations, using videos if I can find them. Anyone is free to join in, agree, disagree, ooh-ah, pooh-pooh, or ignore. The intent is to be eductional.
Well, I'll just describe my experience and state my opinions, mainly with respect to solo canoeing. Others can do the same, either agreeing or disagreeing or smoothing off my sharp edges, since this topic is intended to P.O just about everyone.
Observation 1: Too many people who propel canoes, even for decades, don't really know how to paddle at all.
Observation 2: Too many decent flatwater paddlers have little ability to control a canoe in strong river currents, much less in serious whitewater.
Observation 3: Too many competent whitewater paddlers don't have sophisticated flatwater canoe control strokes. This can include even basic flatwater correction strokes. And some of these whitewater hotshots project a false arrogance.
Observation 4: Too many competent flatwater hit & switch paddlers are not skilled in even one, much less the several, single-sided correction strokes.
Observation 5: Too many competent flatwater single-sided correction stroke paddlers are not skilled in, or appreciate the practical usage of, hit & switch paddling with lighweight bent shaft paddles.
Observation 6: Too many paddlers who paddle single stick limit themselves to being unidexterous paddlers on one side of the canoe only, instead of practicing all strokes and moves ambidexterously.
Observation 7: Too many paddlers restrict their paddling position in the canoe, and hence their available paddle strokes, to stern-only, centralized-only or cab-forward-only sitting or kneeling positions, instead of becoming competent from all all positions, with both sitting and kneeling, and with pitching the canoe bow up and bow down, and with heeling the canoe in both directions.
Observations 8/9: Too many paddlers who paddle single blade ignore the occasional benefits of double blade paddles, and vice versa.
Observations 10/11: So also for open and decked canoes, and vice versa.
Idealistic Conclusion: To be a maximally skilled canoeist, who can be maximally confident in all waters, and who can have maximal spice in a maximal canoeing life, one should learn to be proficient with all these types of canoes and paddles and positions, in all water venues and conditions, with all the relevant control strokes and moves. Of course, no one can really be a master of all these forms of canoeing. The one who came closest in my personal acquaintance was the late Harold Deal.
PRACTICAL CONCLUSION: At least take some lessons, and practice them, in canoe control techniques or hydrological conditions that are new or challenging to you.
In subsequent posts in this thread, I will focus on the practical conclusions of some of these 11 observations, using videos if I can find them. Anyone is free to join in, agree, disagree, ooh-ah, pooh-pooh, or ignore. The intent is to be eductional.
