Expert Canoeing Advice to Master the J-Stroke | Skills | Canoeroots | Rapid Media

Whether paddling your canoe tandem or solo, the J-Stroke will allow you to paddle in a straight line. Francis Boyes of Smoothwater Outfitters (smoothwater.com) in Temagami, Ontario, shares some expert tips to help you with your J-stroke and control your canoe. For more information visit www.paddlingbuy... and find us on Facebook / canoeroots
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[@DirtyBob2001]

I just showed my 9 year old where the instructor allows the paddle to contact the gunnel, which I strongly discourage my boy from doing. We decided I need to talk to this instructor's mother.

[@Tattooedpain]

That's not how Marc Ornstein would do it.

[@hfed2657]

New to open canoe paddling and researching form and function of different strokes. Very informative so thank you for making and posting this.

[@shimismith]

Looks like he was turning in a circle the whole video... anyways really appreciate the tips.

[@JosephStealin]

That’s probably the best explanation of the J stroke. I was doing most of those errors 😂. I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working for me. Most of the videos I’ve watch make it look so easy

[@bobzuidema3560]

I like to melt down the c-stroke and the j-stroke in one allowing me a more consistent paddling frequency. What I mean is that I tend to put a sideway pressure towards the canoe on the paddle the moment it hits the water, therefore you don't need the rudder action at the end of the normal j-stroke that much. I realize that the angle of the blade vs the angle of movement causes that it might be a less efficient pedal stroke but the lack of the rudder movement compensates. Besides that, I like to keep the paddle in the water when going forward for the next paddle stroke and and that is more comfortable this way.

[@keepfocus1214]

I bought my first canoe yesterday and am looking forward to trying out your techniques.

[@thatdude4000]

Cool! Are you still paddling it?

[@nahzewilliams5912]

yea how that go..just bought my first canoe yesterday...doing a bit of research first

[@nmoran2046]

It’s not in interest of style it’s an interest of minimizing repair work on your paddle and your canoe I’d rather be paddling than fixing my gear so call me a purist But I dig that paddle

[@psalm1501]

I'm just wondering why he is paddling backwards? Am I missing something here?

[@ianammerman1616]

When paddling a tandem canoe by yourself, you want to face the back as if it were the bow. This better positions you on the pivot point of the boat and gives you a bit more control. Additionally, if you are on a longer solo journey and don't want to kneel for an entire day/many many miles, sit in the bow seat facing the Stern and paddle that way. You will have MUCH better control.

[@felicityhoyle7020]

Thank you. Not only did you explain the stroke but you also showed how w3 go wrong which is a great help.

[@tombeckett4340]

Thanks great information. My wife always tells me don’t touch the canoe with the paddle. I’ve always touch the canoe and pry a little and have for over 50 years. So there ! that’s what a tell her. 😅 I’ve showed her this video but she doesn’t seem to agree. Mind you she always wants the bow not the stern . Isn’t that strange.🙄 👍🇨🇦

[@dysonspreybar4903]

Funny, my girlfriend seems to prefer the bow as well 🤔 wonder why that might be

[@tobyque9399]

Why is there a c stroke if there is already a j stroke?

[@bobzuidema3560]

I use c-stroke the first few strokes, it helps you preventing the canoe to drift off course due to a lack of speed.

[@RCFlyBoy314]

This helps greatly, thank you! Is there any advantage to sitting forward or backward in the canoe, solo? My grandparents owned a 60's 17ft Grumman aluminum canoe. It's become mine now, and my friend and I have taken it out only 3 times... and we just paddle till we kinda get going straight! I'd like to learn some solo canoeing skill :)

[@pancakepillow]

Try to stay as close to center a possible when solo, if you want to sit, sit on the front seat backwards so you are more central and work on your j stroke. With two people paddling, the person on the back steers, so for every few strokes dip your paddle and steer the boat. If you get good synergy going you should have to steer less.

[@jeffhermida4788]

Novice paddler here. Watch a ton of videos on how to perform j stroke. This video is the best one. The teaching and videography made me fully understand the stroke. Thanks for the video!

[@ericl2969]

To newbies, I always recommend they watch "Path of the Paddle" by Bill Mason and The Canadian Film Board (you can buy the videos or just watch on KZbin). These videos are very old but quite a bit better than most modern explanations you can find. You'll find lots of other good paddling tips there too, which average duffer canoe-paddlers you meet usually won't have any awareness of.

[@robinnegus6499]

that choppy slow motion part made me feel like I was going to have a stroke😳

[@taylorcrockford5266]

Exactly how my dad taught me just fucking brilliant. Makes canoeing way more fun you can canoe on your own, with friends that can't paddle worth a shit and its honestly just fun to paddle when you don't have to struggle in the wind or just going all over the place because you have to change your paddle side every 2 seconds.