Westwood Outdoors was created by Andrew and Carole Westwood in order to provide a site where people can find the latest on paddling techniques, tips and ideas all pertaining to canoeing. Visit westwoodoutdoors.ca for information about books, videos, courses and events.
The skill videos on this site are designed as a general guide and not a substitute for experience. We do not take responsibility for the use of any of the materials or methods described. By following any of the procedures herein, you do so at your own risk.
@@westwoodoutdoors I think I have watched the CAPT video at least 30 times (no exaggeration, trying to learn) and the rolling video upwards of 15 times.
Dear Andrew West Wood, I enjoyed the video. The video about canoeing was swell, exciting and fun to watch! I was more than delighted when i found your channel. Anyway, I can’t wait to be in your class this year (2020-2021)!! - Jacenly Al- Nabhan (ps. i love canoes and please stop forcing people to say skrizzors because of us.) (p.s.s It’s me Abbas I’m just proofreading this so Jacenly won’t have terrible grammar and punctuation have a great day!)
Great addition to the body of knowledge out there! Awesome footage and adding the green for wave interference patterns really helped make it obvious. I wonder - you didn’t mention carving vs a flat hull.
Thanks Stef! Great question. If your eddy exit follows an arcing path, generally tilt the canoe. If your exit involves front surfing out into current, keep the hull flat and save the tilt for arcing off of the wave. There may be exceptions to this technique, but the majority of time, this will enhance stability and lead to a successful eddy exit.
Well made video with lots of good pointers tips and information although I would have to say part of the trick is the leg straps that you guys are wearing I have a bigger an older white water canoe with a perception saddle that's made from plastic and even with the horns it is extremely hard to finish with your thighs when wet and upside down it wasn't till I bought the thigh straps and was secured in the canoe that I then had the ability to flipper back over. But definitely a great video.
Anything to keep your legs “locked” in really. Foam bulkhead good too. Toe pegs or foam are good to press against to keep yourself in place. Try not to relax the legs when you go upside down otherwise you’ll drop out of your canoe.
Awesome but sadly 90%of your strokes go WAY over your head, and you criss cross without switching hands: my poor shoulders pop out of joint just watching you... but it is good info and maybe I can adapt it (short low strokes close to the body, no cross strokes)
The cam forward technique which concentrates on using forward (no friction) (2x4) has X strokes. That's why our paddle length is shorter. I went from a 56 to 52 inch. Andrew went from 60 to 56. Saves those shoulders!
Great video. Thanks for posting -- I'm inspired! The canoe at the beginning and at the end looks like a Millbrook Shacho. Is that right and if so, what do you think of it?
You're right! We use glass boats for slalom racing. Sadly Esquif doesn't produce them. We have a Satcho, Ignitor, and a Prowler. Love them for racing. BTW the Spark was designed with Kaz (owner of Millbrook Boats)
Hey Mike, the rolling skill can be done the same way with your thighs wedged beneath the center thwart of your canoe. You may find that rolling without airbags is actually easier. With the reduced buoyancy you don't have to lift yourself as far above water.
Well done video. tandem canoeing requires that both paddlers know the strokes and also communicate as one during the maneuver. for me and my wife that is the hardest part.
It's really how each person in the boat perceives the move. We teach a course that looks at honing down communication in a tandem to ensure everything goes as planned. Eventually, nothing is said during paddling!
This video is easy to understand for someone like me that need visuals. Thank you for putting in the time for us just getting into white water. Can you please let me know the brand name of that paddle with the carbon handle and wood blade.
Hi Perry, the paddles we use are from Echo Paddles. The wood ones (called The Pursuit) are lovely and Andy Convery does a fantastic job. You can see the paddles at www.echopaddles.com
The tandem roll is the more experienced paddler "in the stern" holds his breath and waits for the dude in the front to bail out. Then you roll as normal...
great video Andrew. All your videos are a super awesome asset for all of us instructors. I really appreciate you contributions and I share and promote your videos often. Take care
This is one of the best instructional videos I have seen. Easily understood explanations, a good analogy with the ball, and fantastic demonstrations. Obviously a lot of planning went into it and the production and editing was superb. Great work!
