Technique Tips

According to Maligiaq Padilla, many Greenland kayakers are first taught to paddle with a vertically oriented blade (at the catch), and as they progress, they are later taught the "canted blade stroke" which is considered a more advanced technique. In the canted blade stroke the top edge of the paddle is angled forward, toward the bow. Learning this technique will quickly bury the blade, reduce or eliminate flutter and ventilation, and provide for much more power. There are several articles on this page that provide more information.

In use a Greenland paddle should be virtually silent, except for the sound of water leaving the paddle on exit. If you hear a "scratching" noise (sounding like drawing your fingernails over cordura fabric or walking on fresh snow), your paddle is ventilating. This means that you are drawing air into the water at the catch. Work on your technique until this noise disappears.

A common error is to lightly "dip" a Greenland paddle into the water so that only a few inches of the blade are immersed. You must use the entire blade! The blades are buoyant, so you may find it difficult to bury them at first. This should happen quickly, otherwise your stroke will almost be completed before you have brought the full blade into play. Using the (diving) angle of the canted blade stroke will help to ensure that the long blades bury very quickly, even when using a vertical stroke. This will bring your lower hand close to the water, but not necessarily into the water.

One of the best ways to learn technique is by observing kayakers better than yourself and teaching others. This is "mentoring" and is the basis for Qajaq USA events. Mentoring is how kayaking is generally learned in Greenland.

Experience mentoring at a Qajaq USA event. View the Qajaq USA Event Calendar.

Home > Technique > Strokes
kayaking technique

Strokes

There is abundant overlap between a forward stroke with a Greenland paddle and that of a "spoon" or wing, but to use a Greenland paddle to its full effectiveness you will employ some different techniques, which are described in the articles below. One potential hurdle to using good technique is having a Greenland paddle that is shaped well and fits you properly. For information on paddle-sizing, please see the Greenland paddles and paddle making page.

Canted Stroke

Many experienced "G-style" kayakers use the "canted-blade" stroke, where during a forward stroke, the paddle is held so that the blades are tilted slightly forward (a diving angle where the top edge is closer to the bow of the kayak than the bottom edge). While this may seem like a contrived way to hold a paddle, it actually is very natural but only if your paddle fits you well. Generally you hold a Greenland paddle with only your thumbs and forefingers on the loom (paddle shaft). Your remaining fingers drape comfortably over the roots of the blades. As an experiment, try this; with a straight wrist, open one hand and look at the angle of your palm. It is not vertical, but is tilted strongly forward. When you put a good-fitting Greenland paddle into your hand and hold it in the manner described above, it will tilt forward naturally. What is the "proper" degree of tilt? Don't worry about that. It will be vary from person to person. Also remember that this is just one technique. It's not the only way to use a Greenland paddle.

The canted blade stroke buries the blade quickly (you want to wet almost all of the blade -- almost to your hand), eliminates or reduces flutter and ventilation (read the side panel) and gives a much stronger feeling of power. Chris Cunningham of Sea Kayaker magazine wrote that using this technique felt as if it transformed his GP into a wing paddle. Interestingly enough, many practitioners of wing paddles feel right at home with a GP, and many of the same stroke elements work quite well.

Holding the paddle

I hold a Greenland Paddle with my knuckles set behind the blade edge. The edge of the blade runs between my knuckles and the adjacent finger joints (slightly closer to the latter). This permits a relatively strong (forward canted) blade angle. My thumbs and forefingers are on the shaft with my other fingers draped over the blade roots. In this position the paddle-shoulder area fills the hollow of my palm and the cant angle is natural and requires no manipulation to maintain.

If I align my knuckles with the blade edge, I find this uncomfortable as I can't "push" with the flat of my palm and the blade is oriented too vertically for my tastes. Alternately, aligning the blade edge with my (middle) finger joints results in too much blade angle for my tastes. Having said that, closely observe what others are doing, experiment, and find what works for you.

Catch

A proper catch is vital for good technique. You need to bury those long blades quickly and cleanly. One common method, using the canted blade stroke, is to simply drive the blade quickly into the water, the diving blade angle will quickly submerge the blade (good for overcoming the buoyancy of most Greenland paddles). Another popular technique is to adopt the wing paddle "spearing the salmon" technique. As you get ready to immerse the blade, use your upper hand and arm to laterally thrust the blade into the water as if you are spearing a fish. With practice you can use both of these techniques together.

Stroke Height

A common mistake is to assume that a Greenland paddle is intended to be used with a "low" stroke. With a proper catch a Greenland paddle works fine for both a low (horizontal) stroke and a high (vertical) stroke. Many Greenlanders hold the paddle at about a 45 degree angle for "normal" touring. I invite students to experiment -- holding the paddle low for shallow water or for casual touring, bringing the paddle to about 45 degrees for fast touring and bringing the paddle fully vertical for fast sprinting. You will discover that since your hands are relatively close together (as compared to a spoon or a wing paddle) that even when you are holding the paddle blades high for a sprint, that your hands can still stay relatively low -- at about chin level or less. Not having to raise your hands so high on each stroke saves energy over a long day.

In time your stroke will become very powerful, solid (like the blades are "planted in mud") and extremely quiet, but it takes practice to reach this point. If you are just trying a Greenland paddle for the first time expect to give it a few weeks. If you are used to a different paddle type at first the paddle may feel as if it flutters badly and has no power. This is quite normal and disappears once your technique improves and you gain experience with the paddle. Interestingly enough, when a Greenlander tries a recreational "spoon paddle" for the first time, the result is often the same.

--Greg Stamer

Sea Kayaker: Maligiaq Makes Waves on his U.S. Visit by John Heath

John Heath describes Maligiaq's forward stroke, including the forward tilt of the paddle blade. Article includes Maligiaq’s Forward Stroke: An Analysis by Christopher Cunningham.

Greenland Technique from the Source: Lessons Learned from Maligiaq Padilla by Greg Stamer

Essay on the paddling mechanics of the 1998 Greenland Champion that discusses the canted blade stroke and differences between what is often taught in the U.S. as compared to what is commonly practiced in Greenland. Epilogue added November, 2002.Kaleraq Bech

Greenland Style Paddling - An overview by Brian Day

A nice page of basic Greenland-style paddling skills. Well illustrated.

Using your Greenland Kayak by Brian Schulz

This article provides basic information about using a Greenland kayak, including outfitting, comfort, carrying the kayak, and more.

Greenland Style Paddling video by Doug VanDoren

A 39 minute instructional video by Doug VanDoren focusing on an uncanted (vertical blade at plant), low, and short forward stroke that is very popular in the Great Lakes. Also includes the sweep stroke, draw, bow rudder, stern rudder, low and high brace, reverse paddling and low brace turn.

Nigel Foster's Sea Kayaking Series (Video / DVD)

Although primarily dedicated to "mainstream" technique (which is useful crossover information for traditional style paddlers too), Nigel Foster invites Greg Stamer to provide instruction for Greenland-style kayaking. Volume 5 (Forward Paddling) contains a lecture on the canted forward stroke method with a Greenland paddle. Volume 6 (Rolling and Bracing) contains a lecture and short demo on "Greenland Rolls and Bracing". Also included is discussion of safe, rapid and effective paddle extension with a Greenland paddle.

Eastern Arctic Kayaks -- History, Design, Technique by John D. Heath and E. Arima.

With contributions by John Brand, Hugh Collings, Harvey Golden, H.C. Petersen, Johannes Rosing, and Greg Stamer. Includes Greenland-style technique information by Heath, H.C. Petersen and a chapter by Stamer on "Using Greenland Paddles (covers one method of using the canted forward stroke in detail). This book is rich in kayak surveys, history and information about Greenland and East Canadian Arctic kayaks. Heath and Arima provide a broad context of the history and cultural significance of these kayaks. The surveys by Heath, Harvey Golden, Hugh Collings and John Brand (excerpts from Brand's "Little Kayak Book" series), should be useful to many builders. Details from Amazon. Also available from Jessie Heath.


For video clips of stroke techniques, please see the Greenland Kayaking Video Clips.