I was taught that only Americans switch sides when they paddle and that true Canadian paddlers should always paddle on a consistent side with the person at the back using a jstroke to turn the other direction.
Not joking this is actually how the summer camp where I got paddling certifications taught it.
I’m American, and in my experience anyone with actual training on canoeing technique would stay on one side like you’re supposed to, but plenty of people also go canoeing who don’t know any better and switch sides to attempt to steer. I grew up canoeing and immediately was annoyed by the forward turn section of the diagram.
There’s nothing more annoying than inconsistency when you are trying to steer.
If you’re not the one steering, your job is to be as consistent as possible. If they tell you to do something, like J-stroke on the left, you do that thing, otherwise, you stroke forwards at the same pace. Once you get tired, you communicate that you need to change sides, then you paddle on that side as consistently as possible.
That is strange to me. I was never thought, so my understanding was that the person in the back is steering, the person in the front is giving rhythm. Sure if you are stationary, then the person in the front also steers like in the picture.
I’ve seen that some only paddle on one side at competitions, but I don’t think that’s realistic for normal relaxed rides?
It’s totally doable and not harder than switching sides constantly. You do a J stroke or an arches stroke and can steer left and right while keeping the paddle on one side.
If you switched, you’d dribble with every switch and lose time. Also you’ll be swerving constantly.
If you stay to one side and to the correct technique, you can correct course with every stroke and still move forwards.
Must suck to operate a canoe solo up there. Just going in circles. 🤷♂️
It’s the opposite. You don’t go in circles with the right technique (J stroke etc)
Why go sideways? Just paddle where you’re going to then draw or feather stroke… Docking with an offshore breeze or something maybe?
I have used it only to get closer to another canoe or for docking and undocking. More often the first one
At a hypothetical canoe-focused trading port? Like for an rpg setting or something. In fact, the Spanish conquistadores mention that much of Mexico City ran on a canal system, not dissimilar from Venice. So I imagine precision and control would be valued skills
Bonus content
It’s surprising how intuitive this feels after just a short time. I kinda miss it.
I miss canoeing… I miss my childhood
Inappropriate joke about “the man in the canoe”
