Redcanoes.Ca wrote:The main movie Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing caters to the Advanced paddler. Becky Mason takes you for a wild spin in her cedar-canvas canoe on the crystal clear waters of Lac Vert, Quebec. The expert strokes and manoeuvres she shows are fun to watch and learn from because she shares unique tips and stories about them too. You'll be spellbound with the stunning underwater camera angles!
Here's the trailer...
This cinematographically stunning film is a sequel to "Classic Solo Canoeing" (which is included on the DVD, alongside a 6 minute music bonus and a collection of out-takes).
The new movie begins by introducing the canoe as a "remarkable craft", suggesting the look, shape and design are age-old, and kicks off her discussion of technique in terms of "a few basic ancient strokes combined in countless ways". The narrator then suggests her "classic" approach, whilst not the only way, is smooth, efficient and easy to learn.
The DVD presents 16 advanced strokes which paddlers are encouraged to combine into manoeuvres...
- Canadian Stroke - with a trademark "punch" of the grip hand, a correction during the in-water recovery and a "snappy exit"...
- Indian Stroke - aka Rolling J / Silent Stroke (with palm roll and slight bow draw)
- Northwoods - Maine / New Brunswick stroke for use with heavily loaded canoes covering long distances
- Pitch Stroke - for speed and maintaining momentum (no hesitation, high grip hand kept out of the rail)
- Compound Back Stroke - back draw and reverse 'J' (with or without palm roll)
- Sculling Draw and Sculling Pry - including the one handed sculling draw
- Running Draw and Running Pry Sideslips
- Running Bow Draw (Bow Cut) - carved inside turn with weight transfer and bow draw into 'C'
- Running Bow Pry - using the back-face: grip hand over rail, chocked up and applying pressure on onside knee
- Running One Handed Pry
- Low Brace Turn - with extreme heel and weight transfer to paddle, arcing brace, palm roll and bow draw
- Box Stroke - bow draw > slice > stern pry > slice and reverse (choked up, lowering the grip hand to reach towards stems, using a "punch")
- High Circle - ACA Freestyle "Outer Gimbal"
- Low Circle - ACA Freestyle "inner Gimbal" (choked up, from a transverse stance)
The "shake out" is also demonstrated and discussed.
The DVD ends with encouragement to practise both sides (including with weight in the bow) and noting the possibility of performing manoeuvers in reverse, and with a repeat of the mantra that all of the above is just using variations on the basic draw, pry, fwd and back strokes.
For more see the promotion page on Redcanoes.Ca.