Re: [Paddlewise] High bracing and elbows

> 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?
> 

   OK, you really want to concentrate more on performing an edge, tilting the 
boat with the hips, then leaning your body into the wave. The problem with a 
"lean" is, as you have found out, it can be difficult to recover from. If you 
are falling into the wave it may be a result of too much lean, as you say, or 
as the wave dissipates the wave begins to pass you by and you find yourself 
bracing on the back of the wave. This is a fairly common mistake. There is 
not any water movement on the back of a wave that will support your paddle 
brace -- only in the face of the wave.
   As Bob V. says, you really do not want to "lock" any part of your body in 
the surf. You will be better off trying to remain loose, and prepared for 
what might happen next. S&*t happens fast in the surf and you must be ready 
for it. The angle of the paddle is set by you! Like I said earlier, you want 
to try to keep the paddle horizontal, or level. Ideally there should be no 
angle at all. The amount of edging required is set by the force of the wave, 
not the angle. 
   The reason we edge the boat into the wave is to present the rounded bottom 
of the hull to the oncoming water (the water coming from the shore, not the 
wave) as the boat slides down the face of the wave towards the shore in it's 
broached position. By doing this we allow the water to slide under the boat 
rather then pile up on the chine and lever us over, which is what would 
happen if you leaned away from the wave.

Scott
So.Cal.

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