Linking Strokes in Kayaking

This is a favorite topic of mine- linking strokes and how you combine movements, maneuvers, and strokes. Your goal here is to link different strokes or maneuvers so that your movements are seamless and you are wasting as little energy as possible as you go from stroke to stroke.

I really appreciated getting this question because linking strokes is a favorite topic of mine. Finding ways of linking maneuvers and motions to get the most out of our energy on the water. These can include stokes that help move the kayak, keep it in motion, change directions or bring it to a stop.

As we move our paddle around, what are some ways to incorporate other motions that might help us minimize our effort or get us ready for the next move? For example, turning the blade to be ready for a brace in between sweep strokes, or sliding the blade forward in the water as we correct our direction with a bow rudder between forward strokes. These motions can help us reduce wasted energy and be advantageous when dealing with winds, currents and waves.