Hi ppl

havnt done bcu star 3 yet and would like to know the best way to do the bow rudder so im prepared for the bcu star 3. Does anyone know where i could find a video of this. Any help would be great

Thanks Alot

Jayson Anthony

What is a bow rudder, is it used when bak surfing or is it for hanging direction when moving forward, I can think of a couple of things that could be called that.

hi jayson
a bow rudder is a turning stroke which is quicker than the stern rudder and is useful for getting into eddies.


think of the bow rudder as a pole that you swing round.

as for the position of the paddle it should be about where ur shins are with the arm that is coming across your deck hoitzontal like you are looking at your watch.

there is a good way to show ppl how to ge the position and ill try n get some pics/video but here goes;

turn to the side you are going to do the bow rudder on.
hold the paddle out to the side.
slice the back blade through the water till it is at the front and then this sould be the correct position

when actually doing a bow rudder put in a sweep stroke on the left(when turning right n vice versa) then put in the actual rudder and swing round.

hope that helps and if anyone wants to correct me on anyting ten please do and if anyone can explain it better again please do

What angle of the paddle blade should it be as i turn around the paddle. A video would be great if anyone know where on is. Thanks again for the help mate.

Jayson

A BCU instructor would generally say 45° to your boat. However I feel that it would be much more useful to point out you really have to try things out for yourself. Remember that effective power stokes have the blade at right angles to the pull. When you slice your blade you have it in line with the pull so that it offers less resistance. Holding an object at 45° against a current creates a powerful vector force (for example ferry gliding).

The bow rudder is a stroke used by slalom kayakers to quickly turn their boat when entering and exiting current (braking in and out). This is why it is part of the BCU 3* award.

Like monkeyman says paddle along to get some forward speed. Sweep on the off side and then plant your paddle on the side you want to turn towards.

Your wrist opens outwards so that the power face of the blade is angled forwards. When you place it in the water it grabs a lot of water holding your hand / arm in one position and so your boat turns around your paddle. Naturally this will change the angle of your paddle in relation to your boat! As your momentum subsides you can help the turn along by pulling your power face towards the side of the kayak (bow draw).

A smooth paddler then seemlessly chages this bow draw into a forward paddle stroke without having to take their paddle out of the water.

Have fun on the water trying it out. The BCU handbook would be a good investment if you want to learn all of the \"propper\" srokes otherwise I'd get \"Kayak\" by William Nealy, it just has some american terms.

This IS what you're looking for. Good video clip!

concise.britannica.com/ebc/art-83360

Good Luck,
Whitewaterules

Thanks very much guys. You have all help me alot.

The Duffek Draw is not a Bow Rudder. A bow rudder is.. Paddle forward about 5 meters, Plant your paddle blade in around your knee so you create pretty much a right angle and finally turn your head in the direction you're turning, practise on both left and right and before taking your 3* make sure you can make it 180 degrees.

A few tips, keep your paddle vertical and always watch where you're going, don't look at the paddle, look in the direction you'll end up!

The Duffek is just the North American name for what people in the UK call a Bow Rudder. The clip is good but shows quite an extreme body and blade position in relation to the boat. The position of your body and angle of the blade will all varey depending on how strong you are, how flexible you are, the power of the water you are entering/leaving, the type of boat you are paddling. Enjoy.

I think the distinction to be made is that between a bow rudder and a bow draw. They both set-up pretty much the same, but with the draw you're pulling the bow of the boat toward the power face of the blade; whereas with the rudder the blade is just planted in the water and the flow does the work – then it can be turned into a draw/power stroke.

Personally i find that by bringing the stroke somewhere between your hips and knees is the most effective and efficent place to do the strokes especially in the shorter boats of today. also by keeping the paddle as close to vertical will make it more efficent!

try practising your body rotation so that you can turn from your hips side on in your boat start off on flat water then move to moving water and just keep practising


Good luck with you three star oh and the hanging draw the paddle blade should also be in the same position between hips and knees worth practising that to can be a very useful stroke and leads onto over strokes such as a high cross

Personally i find that by bringing the stroke somewhere between your hips and knees is the most effective and efficent place to do the strokes especially in the shorter boats of today. also by keeping the paddle as close to vertical will make it more efficent!

try practising your body rotation so that you can turn from your hips side on in your boat start off on flat water then move to moving water and just keep practising


Good luck with you three star oh and the hanging draw the paddle blade should also be in the same position between hips and knees worth practising that to can be a very useful stroke and leads onto over strokes such as a high cross