Re: [Paddlewise] High bracing and elbows

Bracing while broached on a wave is a highly dynamic process.  The wave is
constantly changing with respect to force and shape, and the paddler needs
to adjust the edge and blade handling accordingly.  It's one thing to know
this intellectually, but of course it takes lots of waves before the body
learns its lessons....

Although the notion of protecting the shoulders by keeping elbows close to
the body is valid, it would be conterproductive to take it to the extreme of
"locking" elbows in position.  This would limit your ability to adapt to the
changing wave.  Further, any effort to stiffen (lock) one part of the body
would almost certainly tend to generalize -- and so your edging would suffer
as well.  The remedy would then be swift and sure:  nothing like a good surf
tumble to loosen those muscles and joints!

   Bob V

>> One of the things I sometimes get wrong is maintaining an
> edge, sometimes its more of a lean than an edge, too long. So the wave
> dissipates and I fall in towards the wave.
> If I understand correctly, with elbows locked to the body the angle of the
> paddle is set by edging only, so the angle of the wave sets the degree of
> edging needed. If you then did no more than concentrate on keeping the
boat
> and paddle horizontal by edging would this overcome the tendency to
> overcompensate and fall into the wave?
>


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