Tag: Lazy Days Resort Noel Missouri

Mastering paddle maneuvers is not just a skill; it’s a key to unlocking the full potential of your river rafting experience. It’s the tool that empowers you to navigate river bends and around river obstacles like downed trees or boulders. 

Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or just learning, understanding the basic techniques of rafting strokes will enhance your maneuvering and give you a sense of control and enjoyment on the water. In today’s blog, we’ll explore the essential paddle strokes every rafter should know, from put-ins to take-outs.

Basic River Raft Strokes: Forward and Reverse

The foundation of any good paddling technique begins with the forward and reverse strokes. The forward stroke is the primary propulsion, driving the raft through calm and turbulent waters.

On the other hand, the reverse stroke allows a team of paddlers to slow down or backtrack when necessary. Mastering these strokes can make or break your rafting experience.

The top tip for all paddle strokes is to fully plunge the paddle blade into the water, up to the paddle neck. Submerging the entire blade makes paddle strokes more efficient and less work for everyone in the boat.

Forward Stroke

1. Hold the paddle’s T-grip with your inside boat hand while gripping the paddle shaft with your other hand.
2. Reaching as far forward as possible before fully submerging the blade in the water.
3. Keeping the paddle parallel to the raft, pull the paddle backward alongside the raft until the blade is behind your hip.
4. Then, lift the paddle entirely out of the water before leaning forward again, as far as possible, to plunge the blade into the water to complete another stroke.

Reverse Stroke

1. Leaning as far forward as possible, place the paddle shaft on your riverside hip for leverage as a pivot point and submerge the blade entirely into the water.
2. Position allows you to use your body weight effectively to help push the paddle blade through the water toward the front of the raft, completing the reverse stroke.
3. Keep the blade parallel to the raft as you complete the stroke for maximum efficiency.

Steering Strokes Through River Bends: Draw and Pry

Navigating river bends requires more than just a forward or reverse stroke. The draw and pry strokes are essential for whoever is designated to steer on the raft as the Paddle Captain, who sits aft-end of the raft.

The Paddle Captain’s primary responsibility is to steer the raft around bends, negotiate river obstacles, and keep it on a safe path downriver.

Draw Stroke

Using a draw stroke, the Paddle Captain extends the paddle to one side of the raft, keeping the blade vertical. Then plunges the blade into the water to draw the raft toward the paddle. The use of this stroke moves the raft sideways without changing its angle.

Pry Stroke

The pry stroke is designed to pivot the raft’s direction like a boat’s rudder. However, the Paddle Captain uses the paddle in a continual stroke maneuver, known as a rudder stroke, to feel where the river current is dragging the raft. The pry is just an adjusted stroke from the rudder, in which the paddle is pushed away from the raft on either side to redirect its direction quickly.

Navigating Put-ins and Take-outs

Put-ins and take-outs are critical points in any rafting trip. Proper paddle maneuvers can make these transitions smooth and stress-free and ensure you and other paddlers are always in control of the raft.

Put-Ins

Always position the stern of the boat toward the riverbank and the bow toward the river. When launching from the river’s edge, use forward strokes to quickly move away from the shoreline. If the river current is strong, employ a combination of forward and draw strokes to position the bow end of the raft correctly downstream.

Take-Outs

As you approach your take-out point, use reverse strokes to slow down. Utilize draw strokes to guide the raft’s bow toward the shoreline, ensuring a gentle and controlled landing.

Enhance Your Rafting Experience

Mastering these essential paddle maneuvers will enhance your river rafting experience by staying in control while on the river. Whether navigating tricky river bends or transitioning from the river smoothly at put-ins and take-outs, these techniques are invaluable for any rafter.

So grab a paddle, hit the water, and get ready to experience the thrill of a self-guided river float trip down Elk River or Big Sugar Creek. Your river float trip starts at Lazy Days Resort and Campground in Noel, Missouri. Book your trip today using one of the below links!