What do I need to do to be a good canoeist?

Question

For example:

angle of stroke?

where do I enter the paddle?

what is the approximate time taken for a certain distance for a paddler?

Answer 1

Look for a canoe class near you at the American Canoe Association: http://www.americancanoe.org/

You can buy books, look at articles, but you really need to have someone demo the strokes in front of you on land, so you can try out the strokes on land, then have someone demo the strokes in the water in a canoe, and have your canoe strokes reviewed and get feedback so you can do them correctly and efficiently.

The best instructors will teach you how to draw and pry so you can move the canoe sideways, then they'll teach you how to do a forward sweep and backward sweep stroke so you can turn the boat around in half and full circles. The last stroke to learn is the forward and backward strokes, since now you'll be able to get back to land using the first two sets of strokes you learned! J strokes are harder to learn, so those turning adjustment type strokes should be taught after you mastered the other strokes.

Be safe and have fun!

Answer 2

Good or smart

you need to know water safety

in the boat make sure you have life jackets and make sure you wear one.

make sure people low and with limited moving

Answer 3

Easiest approach, go to a canoe school. A good canoeist can control his/her boat paddling on only a single side. Be able to do the following strokes:  Stop, Back Up,  Move to either side - Draw and Pry, Left and Right Turn and of course Forward.   And be able to do an off-side recovery as well as the on-side one (braces). Consider too, knowing how to load and secure your canoe on the car and possess and use safety gear.

Answer 4

You can "know" all that stuff, but until you actually practice, you will never be good!  The only way to get good at something is to actually DO it...a lot.

Answer 5

yep, you need to learn how to get out of the canoeist safely with and without a skirt on when you canoeist flip upside down in the water.(I am talking about the skirt that will keep you in the canoeist)  If you don't don't know how to do that, then you need to go to a canoeist class and learn how to, because that is really important.