ThePADDLER 8
Standing STANDING Some waves have a sweet spot allowing for a bit of showmanship from bow or stern. Paddles helicoptered above the head or one or other standing are favourites.
Dropping onto the wave Edging away
DROPPING ONTO THE WAVE Dropping onto the wave. Here the canoe has left the eddy, nearest the camera, slid across the pile of the white wave and is now dropping onto the face. No speed is needed anymore and if anything a braking stroke may be needed if the canoe is dropping on too quickly.
EDGING AWAY Here the canoe is running diagonally across the face of a steep, fast wave. It has to be leant strongly away to its left or the current will whip the hull away into a capsize. Any touch with the paddle would quicken the capsize. It takes a lot of balance and confidence to lean away in this situation and inherently it feels unstable.
