Technique Tips Safety  Common mistakes Practice drills

Technique

Forward sweep

• Maintain your normal hand position on the paddle.
• Rotate your torso so you can plant the working blade as far forward as possible.
• Fully immerse the working blade, then take it smoothly through a wide arc from the bow to the stern, using a combination of torso rotation and a straight (slightly relaxed) working arm.
• The hand of the non-working arm, positioned mid torso, acts as a fulcrum. Keep it in the same position relative to your body throughout the stroke (see Tips if you have limited torso rotation). 
• Press your foot on the working side firmly against the foot brace to maximise the power transfer.
• Your knee on the working side will be bent at the start of the stroke. Straighten it progressively.
• Keep the working blade fully immersed throughout the stroke.  

Reverse sweep

• This is basically the reverse of the forward sweep.
• In this stroke, rotate your torso so you can plant the working blade as far back as possible.
• Use the back of the blade. Do not change your hand position. 
• It is counter-productive to push with your foot on the same side as the stroke when reverse sweeping.