Basic Eddy Turns and Peel-outs

The idea of draw strokes is that they can be used to control the angle of the kayak while maintaining speed. Often these are also used in conjunction with currents, producing dynamic results when properly utilized. Draws are our best tool for learning how to harness the rivers energy and transfer momentum and energy into new directions. Eddy turns (for the sake of simplicity in this article, I am referring to both entering and leaving eddies) are a perfect example of this interaction; done well you can transfer all of your momentum from one side of the eddy line across to the other side of the eddy line in a different direction. Classic uses include both the bow draw eddy turn, and the stern draw eddy turn. There is indeed some minor controversy over which of these two styles of eddy turning is better; and while each side has it's strong points and weak points, the reality is that it really depends on the exact setting and the desired goal that will ultimately decide which draw might offer more advantages.

Put simply, the bow draw is excellent at making an extremely sharp turn, while the stern draw is exactly the opposite: great for widening a turn. While the quick "hairpin turns" are often impressive to beginners; often it is more important to broaden the turn out while crossing eddy-lines (especially for beginners). In general the current will have the tendency to turn the boat rather quickly when crossing eddy lines, but often you may want the boat to carve a wider turn allowing for a deeper entry to either the current or the eddy that you are entering. This is helpful not only to make sure that you have entirely left the eddy-line, but also it will over more options on where you can direct your boat as you peel out into strong current. S-turns are one great example of times where you can utilize a stern draw to widen the initial peel out; thus transferring all established momentum towards the destination eddy on the other side of the current.

There are times, however, when the bow draw can absolutely offer some strong advantages: such as when trying to grab a small micro sized eddy, or when forced to peel out right above a big hole. Bow draws can also be handy when coming into a crowded eddy; by cutting a sharper turn just inside the eddy line, you can avoid crashing into the closest boat, plowing them and the next three kayaks out the other side of the eddy. In general the bow draw really comes into play more on technical water, and slightly less so in bigger water.

One key aspect to using either draw on an eddy turn is to make sure that the draw is placed across the eddy line and that the boat has a well established trajectory to clear the eddy line regardless of which draw is used. By reaching the draw across the eddy line you will have a very effective stroke for controlling the turn, weather you wish to widen the turn or to sharpen in up. This concept is often referred to as reaching for "future water", which is a term borrowed from squirt boating. Future water is a basic concept that works great in too many situations to list, but includes play paddling applications, creeking, punching holes, and just good old fashioned eddy turns. If you plant the paddle shy of the eddy line, or in the middle of the eddy line, you will likely come up a bit short on your turn, and may end up straddling the eddy line when all is done. Getting the draw across the eddy line usually will produce a distinctively solid bite on the water, while a draw stroke placed on the eddy line will tend to result in a soft and mushy feel to the paddle. If you don't feel a solid grab when planting the draw, you might want to pull the paddle in a small forward stroke (to keep the boat accelerating), and re-plant the blade slightly further out (hopefully across the eddy line this time).