How to Not Capsize your Kayak

Video Transcript

"Now we're going to talk about high and low braces. If you learn how to brace well you may never flip over again, now there's incentives. There's 2 types, we're going to talk about the high brace first and then the low brace. The high brace is in this orientation with the paddle, so using your power face towards the water. The low brace is the non power face towards the water. Let me show you a few so you can understand what I'm talking about. And a low brace... Key things for bracing is keep your shoulders safe or not injure them in any way. So for the high brace elbows down, hands up towards the chest so that, this is the paddle shaft goes sort of the mid line here. As I tilt the boat over or as your boat is starting to flip over I should say, I'm in balance here but then there's a point of no return. As I tap the paddle blade on the water I have to drop my head and ride the boat with my lower body. You can see as I bring the paddle out of the water I actually have to turn it so it slices out otherwise it's going to pull me back over again. So let me just break it down for you again. So I'm on edge I'm ready to flip over, I tap, drop my head, pull up my hip and away I go. Remember after the brace to keep paddling. If you flipped over once you may flip over again. The low brace is just using the other side of the blade. Again my shoulders are protected, my elbows are back but a little bit up. So if you're looking at animals this looks like a bear, this looks like a monkey. Now as I tilt over I slap the water, drop my head, slice and ride the boat with my lower body. The lower body is really engaged in this so I'm really pulling up on this knee and dropping the opposite butt cheek. You can also think about crunching one side and expanding the other side of your rib area. So here we go, I'm up and away I go. Good! Remember, you're tapping the fish on the head not spiring it for Sushi tonight. So tap, drop your head, ride the boat and paddle away. Those are different kinds of braces you can use."