Lazy Days

Resort & Campground on Elk River

Tag: rafting paddle

Tag: rafting paddle

Mastering River Rafting Paddle Maneuvers

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!

Book An Elk River Float

Book A Big Sugar Creek Float
Craig SandersBig Sugar Float, Elk River Float, Location, Noel MO, River Float, River Rafts

Two Simple River Rafting Paddle Maneuvers In Every River-goers Toolbox

River floats are a popular outdoor activity during the summer months throughout southwest Missouri. It’s an excellent way to make memories that last a lifetime with friends.

But every river-goer knowns that there are two essential paddle maneuvers needed to easily navigate the easy-flowing waters of the Elk River near Noel, Missouri, which are:

  • Forward stroke
  • Reverse stroke

Each stroke has a directional purpose in a river raft and is easy to complete, whether the river current is easy and slow or fast-moving with many rapids. By understanding how each of these paddle strokes work, you will be able to complete a successful river launch and navigate your way:

  • Across a river
  • downriver, or
  • Upriver, if you choose

Successful Completion of Any Paddle Stroke Technique

For any paddle stroke to be completed successfully, it’s essential to know the three phases of a single stroke.

  1. Catch phase
  2. Power phase
  3. Recovery phase

By understanding these phases and how they work together, you can conserve energy for a more relaxing, good time on your river float trip.

The Catch Phase

The most critical phase out of the three is the catch phase. At this phase, a paddle blade makes first contact with the water. For the step to get completed successfully, the paddle blade must be fully plunged into the water up to the paddle throat before the power phase begins.

The Power Phase

Now the power phase, or power stroke, can begin. With all paddlers working in unison, this phase is the most efficient and effective way to move across the water.

Each paddler in the raft will hold on to the t-grip of the paddle using their inside hand coming cross-body to grasp the t-grip while the outside hand holds onto the shaft; in unison, the paddlers in the boat lean forward to drag the raft past the paddle(s). It is the in-unison work that gives this phase its name, power.

The Recovery Phase

The final phase of a stroke is the recovery phase when the paddle blade is lifted from the water and brought forward before plunging into the water to execute another stroke.

Forward Stroke for Maximum Efficiency

The forward stroke is the single most important paddle stroke in a river float. It propels a raft forward while keeping the boat in a straight line. When done correctly, it’s an incredibly efficient technique that saves you energy and keeps your raft moving swiftly.

Reverse Stroke for Directional Control

The reverse paddle stroke, sometimes called the back stroke, is an essential technique for river rafting and other river sports. It gives you maximum control over your raft’s direction. The method involves paddling in a backward direction while facing forward, which helps you to make quick turns and navigate through narrow passages.

Book A River Float Today

Booking a river float with Lazy Days Resort is easy. If you have specific dates in mind, you can check all the available dates through their online booking system for floats down:

The resort is situated between Pineville and Noel, Missouri. Getting to Lazy Days Resort is a short one-minute drive southwest of Interstate 49. Take exit 5 at mile marker 6.

If you have a minute or two, read what our past guests had to say about their stays.

Craig SandersCanoes, Elk River Float, Kayaks, River Float, River Rafts