"Momentum Matters": A Technique Essay by Marc Ornstein

[Glenn MacGrady]

"One of the hallmarks of FreeStyle is efficiency and the conservation of your energy. The first step, in most cases, is to efficiently get the boat moving, forward or reverse. . . . The energy that you expended, putting the canoe into motion is now transferred to the canoe as its momentum. Efficiently Maneuvering the canoe, once it is moving, is mostly a matter of redirecting that momentum."

Momentum Matters – FreeStyle Canoeing

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I've learned a lot from reading and watching Ornstein. One thing I've noticed from his videos and others is that what we infer from text is not always exactly what we should do. For instance, the torso rotation that is stressed so much is actually slight - at least slighter than I used to envision. Also the oft repeated mantra of keeping our head over the center of the boat. In one of the linked videos where Marc demonstrates the Axle, his head is so far to the onside that it's almost out of the boat.

These are not criticisms, but an acknowledgement that nothing is better than direct in person training from a skilled paddler. But I love that Marc adds these video links to his writing, since it's the next best thing.

 

[yknpdlr]

It is always fun to learn a new stroke that you have never known before, then to discover that you have been doing a version of a commonly well known stroke self-learned, but it only needs a little tweaking refinement to make it more efficient in the time and way you employ it. Especially as you learn to link it with other strokes you already previously know. Then, after some comfortable practice with it, when it comes to more technical paddling, say staying closely parallel to a complex shoreline, or in a confined area, or amongst obstacles in wind or a slight current, the stroke you use is now just muscle memory. You do not need conscious thought or the name of the stroke or linked stroke you need or are using without unnecessarily losing momentum in the moment and which stroke to use in the next moment. Now that is paddling.

 

[Thestripper]

I've never felt like freestyle canoeing was my thing but in this setting I think it makes total sense and this is something I actually try to emulate on occasion.

 

[yknpdlr]

Most paddlers may not actually get into the finer intricacies of Freestyle paddling, but it doesn't take learning or much doing of the strokes skills to realize that aspects of the techniques, once learned what they do for you, have a tremendous usefulness and easily carry over to everyday paddling in precisely commanding your canoe to do exactly as you wish in most any situation, and not just on calm flatwater.

The above video does nicely demonstrate that without being overly fancy or flashy about it.

 

[zekabl]

I've never felt like freestyle canoeing was my thing but in this setting I think it makes total sense and this is something I actually try to emulate on occasion.

Their movements are almost robot like and I don't think I ever saw a smile on their faces like they were having fun. I would be flailing my paddle around trying to stay the course. Maybe not that bad. Is that what the Pine Barrens are like?? Might have to take it off the bucket list if all it is dodging trees and ducking hanging twigs on a 15ft wide stream.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Looks like my kind of place.

 

[Alan Gage]

I've never done it on little twisty streams but intentionally paddling through small gaps and openings on my local river often helped keep the routine paddle more interesting.

I was usually paddling hard upstream in a straight keeled boat so the game was to spot the opening well in advance and maneuver myself into position without breaking cadence or using correctional strokes and to hit the hole at full speed, only breaking cadence long enough to duck my head and tuck in my arms.

It was really fun when it worked and really exciting when it didn't.

I've done it when paddling boats at a relaxed pace more suited to the purpose with fancier strokes and that was fun and rewarding as well but without the excitement of impending doom.

Alan

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I was employing all that and more on the river trip I did about a week and a half ago. It didn't look graceful like that though, because the current was much faster.

Would never have made it through that meandering canyon dry without those moves.

 

[eckilson]

Momentum is what allows you to go where you want to go, make the moves you want to make, and stay in control - that applies to freestyle or river paddling. I find that most of my swims in moving water involve me lazily floating into a feature. Without momentum it is real easy for the boat to end up sideways and dump. I know that you need to paddle through features to maintain speed and control, I just don't always do it. Especially in drops I have a bad habit of trying to ride a brace - with bad results.

 

[lowangle al]

Without momentum you are just using paddle strokes to turn your boat. With momentum you can use your hull to help make a turn.

Freestyle paddling relies on a pretty level trim to raise both stems out of the water when heeled over to make turning easier. With my bow light/heavy stern style the stern stem acts like a rudder. This gives me a better carve than I ever got from paddling from a centralized position. As counterintuitive as it may seem it also helps keep my bow into the wind and on course.

I like paddling little twisty streams. It's often where you leave other boaters behind.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I find that most of my swims in moving water invlove me lazily floating into a feature.

Yep. I'm familiar with that.

 

[gumpus]

I've never done it on little twisty streams but intentionally paddling through small gaps and openings on my local river often helped keep the routine paddle more interesting.

I was usually paddling hard upstream in a straight keeled boat so the game was to spot the opening well in advance and maneuver myself into position without breaking cadence or using correctional strokes and to hit the hole at full speed, only breaking cadence long enough to duck my head and tuck in my arms.

It was really fun when it worked and really exciting when it didn't.

I've done it when paddling boats at a relaxed pace more suited to the purpose with fancier strokes and that was fun and rewarding as well but without the excitement of impending doom.

Alan

One of my favorite gaps to run upstream is on the Huron River near Ann Arbor. There is a rock wall across the whole river with just one gap around 6 feet wide with water rushing through and a drop of about 6 inches. To get through you need to build as much momentum as possible going adjacent to the gap and then hit the gap at just the right shallow angle so you can continue to paddle as hard as you can. When done just right the momentum gets the paddler (but not the stern) just over the drop with the boat almost stopping and then you power through. For my paddling my Merlin II has the efficiency needed for going upstream plus just enough maneuverability to let you horse it around a little when you don't do things exactly right.

 

[gumpus]

It is always fun to learn a new stroke that you have never known before, then to discover that you have been doing a version of a commonly well known stroke self-learned, but it only needs a little tweaking refinement to make it more efficient in the time and way you employ it. Especially as you learn to link it with other strokes you already previously know. Then, after some comfortable practice with it, when it comes to more technical paddling, say staying closely parallel to a complex shoreline, or in a confined area, or amongst obstacles in wind or a slight current, the stroke you use is now just muscle memory. You do not need conscious thought or the name of the stroke or linked stroke you need or are using without unnecessarily losing momentum in the moment and which stroke to use in the next moment. Now that is paddling.

I sometimes get into a playful/dreamy mood when paddling downstream on a small local river full of downfall. Any forward stroke is fine when you also have gentle current to maintain momentum and continuous obstacles let you use any/all kinds of steering strokes. Sometimes I feel like I'm not choosing the strokes I use.

 

[Alan Gage]

one gap around 6 feet wide with water rushing through and a drop of about 6 inches. To get through you need to build as much momentum as possible going adjacent to the gap and then hit the gap at just the right shallow angle so you can continue to paddle as hard as you can. When done just right the momentum gets the paddler (but not the stern) just over the drop with the boat almost stopping and then you power through.

To me that's one of the most satisfying feelings in paddling.

Alan

 

[Black Dog]

To get the most out of freestyle maneuvers it is important to be bow heavy when initiating a turn by rising off the seat to your knees to free the stern which allows it to spin around. I use these maneuvers on all my river paddling trips makes eddy ins and outs much more fun !