Article-7

The Low Brace Turn

Stability on the Eddy Line

Although kayaks are a lot more stable then they might first appear, the paddlers who stay dry are the ones who know the proper technique to use in situations where overturning is a distinct possibility. Crossing an eddy line is one of these situations.

Whether you are a novice paddler or a seasoned expert, the low brace turn is a combination of moves that guarantees stability in your boat in all kinds of water. The low brace turn is the simplest and most stable manoeuvre for leaving the current and entering an eddy (eddy-in) or exiting an eddy into the current (eddy-out).

In teaching beginners and novice kayakers at our school, we have found that the low brace turn gives students valuable confidence in dealing with river currents. Not only does it help turn the boat, but it forces the paddler to lean the proper way when crossing the daunting eddy line.

But the low brace turn is not just for beginners. I often use it in big volume water. Reaching out over my low brace keeps my centre of gravity low, sets a good boat edge and give me extra assurance in boiling, powerful water.

The following explanation uses the eddy-in situation to illustrate the successful low brace turn which is a three-stroke combination of a forward sweep, a low brace and a forward stroke.

As in all eddy turns, set a proper 45 degree boat angle aiming for the top of the eddy, where the eddy line is sharpest. Be sure to have good speed; low brace turns are only effective with speed.

To start the boat turning, place a forward sweep on the downstream side of the boat. In a forward sweep, the leading arm should be extend to the bow and the blade fully immersed in the water. Using the power face of the blade, push water away from the bow and around towards the stern in a wide, semi-circular-circular motion. The wider you sweep, the better the boat will turn. In a low brace turn, the sweep should be started just before the bow of your kayak hits the eddy line. This propels the boat across the eddy line.

Switch to the main upstream side and place the low brace in the eddy. Make sure that your elbows are above the paddle shaft with your leading arm extended and your other arm bent over the cockpit. Lean both boat and body onto your paddle and hold the low brace for a count of two. Remember to look at your blade and to trust it; do not shy away from leaning on your paddle blade.

To help complete the turn, push your blade towards the bow as you might at the end of a reverse sweep, causing the non-power face of the blade to travel in a semi-circular motion towards the bow. Then without removing your blade from the water, finish the low brace turn with a forward stroke. This ensure your spot in the eddy and keeps your boat form drifting downstream.

At this point you should be sitting pretty in the eddy, well positioned to take a small break from the current and to plan the next segment of your descent.