Are you doing a 2025 version

Thanks Sam, very useful info for a beginner

Hi Sam, will you be doing another video like this for the 2025 race? Your videos are absolute gold!!

I like the look of those Gara paddles. If I'm a smaller build (with therefore smaller than average hands), should I go for the skinny shaft?

I have recently been thinking about this same thing, after realizing that my 'preferred' unfeathered style doesn't actually feel quite right at all times. I had toyed with the idea of trying a little bit of feathering, and you have shown a way that the experiment can be done. I have moved from white water to sea kayaking so an efficient comfortable paddle stroke is essential. Thanks for the video.

Personally I don't feather my paddle unless there's a significant head wind. Riding the angle that works for you is the key. Whitewater is definitely a different story and the only time Id use feather constantly.

That's a darn excellent information mate, thank you so much

its nice to think about what effects paddling but your video misses to explain conversion from beam width measured at your described catch area to the paddle reach meassured from outside grip.

Proper rotational leg drive in a multisport boat is almost impossible with everything being so tight. I find it really difficult moving back to multisport from K1 sprint, usually suffering abrasions from rotating.

I am not a paddling instructor, but I have been helping friends get the right length paddle with a less complicated way of getting the same results. Most of my friends have kayaks, and are not going to buy a new one to adjust their reach. I have them find their grip width by doing push ups as you do, and mark a longer than ideal paddle borrowed from another paddler. We wrap some tape on the shaft a centimeter wide with centimeter spacing next to the blades. Go out on flat water on a calm day, and i have them close their eyes and slowly paddle comfortably. Note by the tape how deep they are dipping the paddle at the catch, and the distance between the water marks is how long the shaft should separate the blades. Add blade lengths, and you are there. For my own paddles, I figured out several years ago that my high angle paddle needed to be a lot shorter than my low angle paddle, and came up with this system.

Multisport boats are often very tight fitting around the seat, offers much better control. Every time I go from my sprint K1 paddling properly back into a multisport boat I end up with abrasions. There's a trade off here.

Keeping the arms low below the shoulders is an ideal power stroke, notice the video of him paddling the kayak that doesn't have a scoop to allow the paddle drop which would probably not be used in racing.

Excellent info

Cheers for this, even ten years on these are the best kayaking tutorials I can find and has helped a lot in my Coast to Coast journey.

Finally...😊 Thanks matey

This video was so useful. The torso rotation and the membrane idea made such a big difference for me. My arms don't tire as much anymore. Many thanks.

I have a question. I look for the jacket that keeps me the driest, but I look for one that is actually the cheapest, but is good. Which one can you recommend?

Now I'm going to have to save for a plane flight, thanks🙃🙂

Great video. I'm newish to paddling. I'm paddling a stellar 16 surfski and a galasport metax 520. I definitely notice the boat width, but I'm already max out on shaft adjustment. 😢 problem is. I've gotten stronger since I bought my Stella wing paddle. So I think my blade size is now a little small for the ski. But it's ok for the kayak. Shaft length, catch length is ok for the ski, but too narrow for the kayak. I extend the shaft 3 or 4 cms past factory marks🤞. Spouse ideally I need two new paddles. Big problem is money and what paddle. Probably new ski paddle and I will keep using the over extended paddle for the kayak.

Спасибо, все предельно ясно и доходчиво.

What a waste of time, talk about something you know.

Hi everyone thanks so much for all your amazing feedback! FYI the newly formed bluff corner shown as “Kinbrooks Bluff” in this video (right by Kinbrooks Hut) is also known by some as “Pinnacle Rock”. I hope that’s not too confusing for ya’ll should it remain in play for a while. Happy paddling - Sam

Amazing, just received confirmation of our team entry for 2025 - lucky me, I’m the kayaker. This video has given me some confidence, not to book in my flights (I’m in Sydney) get my grade 2 and explore with you guys.

These videos that Sam does for the community are always fantastic. If you don't know the gorge like the back of your had, watch and learn. If if you do think you know better, watch anyway because there will still be something you didn't think of.

Here in South Africa our rivers look very different so it’s interesting seeing your rapids. You guys should come do the Dusi canoe marathon in South Africa. It’s a 3 day kayak race with rapids ranging from grade 1 to grade 3+

I recently completed the Coast to Coast 2024, and kayaking turned out to be the highlight for me. Before connecting with Canterbury Kayaking, my only kayaking experience was with sit-on-top rentals during family vacations. :) The video, combined with a grade 2 certification and a 3-day course with Sam, was a game changer. I highly recommend it to any beginner planning to take on the Coast to Coast in 2025!

Sam - thank you so much for your teaching you have provided to myself and my lads (age 20 and 18 years) and then this video - so thankful with race just around the corner (excuse the pun)

Thanks Sam, appreciate you taking the time to do this. If anyone is considering the C2C next year and is in need of their Grade 2 certificate I highly recommend Canterbury Kayaking. I completed my Grade 2 and kayaked the Waimak a couple of times with Sam prior to last years event and was back a couple of weeks ago to paddle it again prior to this years event, always a good day out

Thanks Sam, that is so different to last year, looking forward to Saturday, hopefully it's still 70-80cumec!

Great work Sam, once again invaluable tips & information not only for novice paddlers, but everyone will benefit from this footage. Anyone considering a Grade 2 course I can highly recommend Sam & his team to guide you through the entire process. Sam is so professional & thorough in his approach to teaching paddlers of all ability. After watching this video, you will see evidence of Sam's calm & reassuring nature that he brings to his teaching... He makes learning fun, enjoyable & most of all beneficial to those wanting to get the best out of their paddling experience. Good luck with the new addition to the family Sam... Another exciting chapter for you all! Hope all goes well on the day.

Thanks Sam, most appreciated

Completed C2C 2023. Did all my kayak skills training with Sam, Grade 2, Skills improvement then a couple of guided trips down the Waimakariri pre race. Totally recommend Canterbury Kayaking. Went from being a total novice to having the best fun down the river during the race. Missed out this year. So, good luck for and don't forget to take in the scenery. So beautiful.

Great video and advice. Thanks Sam.

Sam's videos are great and his escorted trips even better. I was so glad I had been thru the Gorge with him pre-race (2021), on race day I just kept thinking "what would Sam advise here?" And lo no swims or issues!😃

This is awesome, thanks so much Sam! For new paddlers, I did my Grade Two in 2021 and an additional skills course in 2023 (plus a couple of guided trips) with Sam and his team and would 100% recommend CK for the best and safest experience on the river. Still nervous as hell for race day but Sam has been a huge part of helping me build confidence and genuinely enjoy kayaking! All the best with the new pēpi!

Hey Sam - thanks for the video! For someone from the nth island this is absolute gold! For those looking at 2025, Sam is an awesome instructor👌

Great video Sam All the best for the new addition

Awesome refresher. Thanks so much.

Thanks Sam. I’ll watch it few times before Saturday:)

Great float through Sam! Looks awesome out there. I did the Grade 2 course with Sam (Canterbury kayaking) end of summer last year. Remember it like it was yesterday. Was so much fun, jam packed full of technique and skill development also learnt alot about the river flow mechanics. I missed out on the ballot for coast to coast 2024 but this Kayaking course was the highlight of 2023 for me. Will love to do the Grade 2 course again towards the end of the year.

Thanks for taking the time to film and put this up Sam! Good luck to you and the family and good luck to everyone else on race day!

Any hints for the first 7km and last 15km? :) You make it look easy. I'm so glad I had time to prepare with two courses with you over the last year and a guided trip down the river with Canterbury Kayaking in a tandem with my partner. I'm starting to get excited. For those of you considering a course with Sam, you'll learn heaps, you'll be SAFE, you'll learn solid skills and you'll come back for more.

Thanks Sam for another awesome extremely helpful video. All the best for the exciting arrival.

I don't know why, but something made me check your KZbin channel and see if you had put out a new kayak lines video as you always do in the days leading up to each C to C. I couldn't believe it when I saw a new video that had only been up for 38mins. Great information video as usual Sam. Good luck with your new baby

Thanks, great to see what the river looks like this week. Really appreciate your tips.

I can't praise Sam highly enough. I've had the good fortune to do the Grade 2 and a couple of the Multisport courses over the past few years together. Sam's Kayak Lines videos are the definitive and go to for any Coast to Coast athlete, no matter what your level of kayaking skill. I first got in a multisport boat in 2020 and Sam provided the opportunity to learn, gain a understanding of what you are supposed to do and the chance to begin to try and put that all into practice! The trips through the gorge are a must. All in all, I'm absolutely stoked with what Sam has been able to teach me and getting through the Waimak in the 2023 race when the conditions were described by the race coordinator as Boisterous was something I couldn't have imagined doing without the time spent with Sam and team at Canterbury Kayaking. Thanks Sam, you're a legend.

Thanks for the video Sam and best wishes for the new arrival! To anyone considering doing the coast to coast I can't recommend Sam and his training methods highly enough.

Have a great time on the river everyone! I’m here in the comments if you have any questions 👍 - Sam

Got a video for this year?

Really enjoying your videos, thanks.