Re: [Paddlewise] deep brace?

At 10:14 PM 7/28/2004 -0700, Jerry F wrote:
>What exactly does the term 'deep brace' mean?

As I have used the term several times in the past I can tell you how *I* 
define it.

I use it to refer to a brace in which you body has entered the water prior 
to bracing back up.

Perhaps defining what a brace is might help with why I make the distinction.

Essentially a brace is a method of using the flat part of the blade (either 
face) as a means to assist in support or recovery from an eminent capsize.

Bracing can be done essentially three ways.

Low brace:  the back face of the paddle is used to provide pressure against 
the water surface (or it could actually be below the water surface)  A low
brace is performed with the wrist below the elbow (sometimes called the 
"gorilla position".

High brace: the power face of the paddle is used to provide pressure 
against the water surface.  A high brace is performed with the elbow below 
the wrist.

Notice I didn't mention anything about hip snaps.  While a hip snap is 
generally necessary to perform both a low and high brace (if you're doing 
it correctly) one can be in a bracing position for along time without 
hipsnapping if the boat is moving forward or reverse (or the boat is not 
moving but the current is moving past it).  Both a high and low brace can 
be used to provide support while edging the boat during a turn or the blade 
placed in a wave face to maintain the position of the boat. Usually, a 
low/high brace is performed such that the blade moves neither fore nor aft 
during the stroke although many will combine downward pressure on the water 
with a sweep (bow to stern for a high brace, stern to bow for a low brace).

Most people practice high and low bracing from a static position on flat 
water.  They'll hold the paddle out in a bracing position then lean/edge 
the boat over.  When the paddle blade hits the water surface they'll 
simultaneously hip snap to bring the boat back to a stable position.  The 
distinction between what most people do while practicing and a "deep brace" 
has to do with your body position just prior to when the brace is 
performed.  Most people will get into a "J-lean" position, such that while 
the boat may be edged over, their body is still leaning toward an upright 
position.  Depending how flexible you are, you often can bring the boat 
back to a stable position with just a hip snap. For a deep brace, they have 
to fully to commit to capsizing prior to bracing back up.  That is,  your 
body will actually be in the water, and if you don't brace with a good hip 
snap it will stay there until you either perform a roll or do a wet 
exit.  Some might refer to a "deep  brace" as a recovery brace.

BTW, it is much easier to do deep brace using a high brace than a low brace.

The third kind of brace is a sculling brace or sculling for 
support.  Typically, it is always done from a static position and is 
traditionally used as a resting stroke.  For a sculling brace, instead of 
getting support from a downward pressure with the blade, lift is achieved 
by moving the blade fore and aft while maintaining a climbing angle on the 
blade (the leading edge always higher than the trailing edge).  While both 
the low and high braces might include a bit of a sweep, a sculling brace is 
all sweep and the key to success is changing the angle of the blade as the 
sweep changes directions.

Like the low/high brace, a sculling brace can be performed as a "deep 
sculling brace".  When most people are learning how to perform a sculling 
brace they will tend to go into a j-lean position. They'll scull the paddle 
back and forth (often vigorously with lots of splashing) as the boat is 
edged over and they're leaning away from the water.  When doing a deep 
sculling brace their are a few things to consider.

Your body floats.
Your head floats.
You're wearing a PDF which provides additional floatation.

If you're performing a sculling brace and trying to maintain an edged over 
position gravity is pulling your body and head toward the water.  If your 
body and head were actually in the water a smaller amount of lift would be 
necessary to staying in a resting position.  To perform a deep sculling 
brace you have to commit to letting your body go into the water.  As you go 
in, if you look up toward the sky.  If you twist your body such that you're 
turned somewhat perpendicular (though most people are not that flexible) an 
your back is to the water, this position will provide the most 
floatation.  Then it's just a matter of sculling the paddle back and forth 
s-l-o-w-l-y to maintain your position.  There are a few keys to success:

Keep the paddle as close to horizontal as you can.  That means that your 
offside (the one closest to the boat) should stay low.

It's better to take long slow strokes instead of lots of short fast 
ones.  The lift comes from sweeping the paddle blade fore and aft.  You're 
not going to get any lift during the time when the paddle is changing 
direction.  The less time you spend changing directions the more lift you 
will get.

The biggest problem people have is keeping a consistent shallow climbing 
angle in both directions.  The leading edged should always be just higher 
than the trailing edge (like spreading peanut butter on a soft piece of 
bread). Too much angle and you're pushing water sideways instead of 
achieving lift. Too little and the paddle blade is going to dive.

BTW, if you can get your body position right you can perform a fourth kind 
of brace.  You can stop sculling entirely and just hold the paddle with one 
hand and you'll be performing a balance (or static) brace.
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