How to Perform a Bow Draw on Whitewater | Part 2/2 | Intermediate Whitewater Kayaking Skills Series

In this video we go over a step by step progression on how to do a version of the Bow Draw in moving water. This version is a version of the bow draw that we use to get people started and it is an amazing platform for many other bow draw variations.
Like this video? Don't forget to like and subscribe! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below.
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[@adventurekid9242]

Excellent teaching video and easily followed. Also what an amazing teaching venue with perfect features for practice and teaching

[@AQOutdoors]

Thank you so much for the kind words. Stoked to hear it is useful! We are very fortunate to have Harvie passage right in the city .. a great venue for sure

[@macfawlty]

Another great instructional. The step by step and well telegraphed moves really make it clear where the actions occur. The common mistakes are spot on. You refer to a subsequent video for technique to entering tighter eddy?

[@AQOutdoors]

Thanks for the kind words. We will be launching that new video in the spring..

[@macfawlty]

@@AQOutdoors you're really doing it right. Surprisingly, there haven't been many comprehensive WW instructionals since Eric Jackson decades ago.

[@AQOutdoors]

@@macfawlty Thanks so much! Just out of interest. Where in the world are you located?

[@juttaweiss9560]

das ist didaktisch perfekt I love it

[@AQOutdoors]

Danke sehr Jutta!

[@GabrielJM]

Hi, very well explained and demonstrated. How do the indications for a bow draw differ from when to do a stern draw? They both seem to have the same purpose, is one better than the other in different situations?
Thanks very much.

[@AQOutdoors]

Thanks for checking out the video and stoked to hear ou have enjoyed this tutorial. The Stern draw and the bow draw in the definitions we use have quite different applications. The Bow Draw as per this video is used to enhance a turn and we often use it to do tight turns to say catch a small mid stream eddy or for a mid current direction change. The stern draw (or hanging stern draw) is used to use the spin momentum the kayak is trying to produce, offset it and turn that into straight line or corss current speed. We have a video on it that you can see here: czcams.com/video/6eiXXET3frM/video.html
Let us know if the differences make sense after checking that video out.
Cheers

[@GabrielJM]

Thanks for the response. It looks to me like the stern draw is being used to make a wider turn in broad eddys or current as opposed to tighter turns with the bow draw. Is that sort of accurate? Thanks!@@AQOutdoors

[@AQOutdoors]

@@GabrielJM that is correct. Stern draw creates momentum in a straight line and a bow draw creates a tighter turn arc or redirection! Have fun playing around with these.

[@dougreid1951]

Why do all the examples of a "Bow Draw" start with what looks a lot like a reverse sweep - where the blade enters the water well abaft the cockpit..... - could cause considerable confusion.

[@AQOutdoors]

Thanks for checking out the video and for the question. As we mentioned in the vide this is just one way to approach teaching the stroke. IN our methodology, we break each piece of the stroke down and this step by step progression we have had great success building long term repeatable and dynamic bow draws. It is certainly not to say the only way to do it. I have seen many people teach/learn the bow draw as simply as paddle forward, open the blade angle to a certain degree and place int he water. Bam, the bow draw and the boat is turning. This progression leads into other versions of the raw and we believe it builds a strong foundation.
The part you refer to that looks like a reverse sweep is designed to allow the Bow Draw to slowly build power and turning momentum, it is a little more technical than just placing the blade in the water and essentially pivoting around the paddle. The slow build power of slowly opening the blade angle in the water (which is what is happening during the reverse sweep appearing part), allows for better feel and control. We cover this in more detail in part 1 of this video, how to do the skill in flatwater. You can see this here:
czcams.com/video/KSlapFfn-Ck/video.html
Sorry for the long winded reply, hopefully video 1 will explain it much better than my words could.