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From: bill hansen <bhansen2_at_twcny.rr.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] deep "Greenland" low brace
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 15:23:08 -0400
Long-time lurker here, an older fellow who converted to using a West 
Greenland style paddle a few years back, because it seems much easier on 
aging joints and muscles. I've never taken the time to learn the deep low 
brace, or any of the "Greenland-style" rolls. Recently a couple of friends 
have been encouraging me to learn a few of those.

My question to day has to do with the deep low brace - paddle well under 
the water with the end near the boat deeper than the end furthest from the 
boat, paddler leaning forward and toward the on-water side of the kayak, 
sculling down and then back up. When I try this, it seems to impose a lot 
of stress on shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the on-water arm. After 
experimenting with the brace several times one day recently, it was clear 
that my left elbow (my left arm was the "on water arm") wasn't going to 
take any stress for a couple of days. It also seemed that this brace would 
be a good way to dislocate a shoulder.

Is this stress inherent in the stroke, or are there some little tricks and 
subtleties which reduce or eliminate upper extremity stress?

Bill Hansen
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] deep "Greenland" low brace
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2004 18:37:50 -0400
On 2 Aug 2004 at 15:23, bill hansen wrote:

> My question to day has to do with the deep low brace

Usually called the chest scull, I believe.

> - paddle well
> under the water with the end near the boat deeper than the end
> furthest from the boat, paddler leaning forward and toward the
> on-water side of the kayak, sculling down and then back up. When I try
> this, it seems to impose a lot of stress on shoulder, elbow, and wrist
> of the on-water arm.

I've never heard of going up and down - usually I think in terms of 
dropping down until your chest is in the water and then scull to 
maintain position.  Getting up is with a hip snap.  If you do this, 
most of your weight is carried by the water and little force is 
required in the paddle and hence in your arms.

If you're trying to keep your body out of the water, it is going to 
be stressful.  I'd suggest simply not doing this.

Mike
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