Tuck n' Duck Technique
Tuck n’ Duck
The Tuck n’ Duck is one of the more important techniques to learn when paddling big water and simply learning how to take on bigger waves.
Body position and an active paddle placement is the key to this skill. Your first task is to find yourself a nice sized crashing wave that is located in a safe location. You don’t want to drop into something that can lead to trouble.
You want to utilize your offensive body position.
Offensive Position –this is the position that you want to utilize when getting aggressive to take on wave, holes, and many playboating manoeuvres.
When getting into the aggressive position you want to bend at the hips and not with your back. Try simply putting your chest forward toward your knees. You will quickly notice that the bow of the kayak drops and sits lower in the water. This action will allow more of the bow edges (chin) to be in the water and optimally allow you to track a better straight line in the whitewater. When you are in the aggressive position you can take on waves with more stability. The waves will either crash over your body or if you take them in the chest you will only be pushed into your neutral position rather than kicked into leaning back!
1.) As you start your approach to the wave you want to have good forward momentum to take on the wave. I normally use the idea of ‘when in doubt….Charge.’
2.) When you are approaching the wave you will want to have a slight angle on your kayak. Not too much angle or when you hit the wave it will turn you sideways and surf you. Don’t paddle straight into it!
3.) When you are in the lowest point or trough of the wave you will want to get a paddle stroke into the water. This will give you support to take the hit! Place the paddle at your toes and get it deep into the water for the best stability.
4.) You want to place some edge on your kayak as well. Slightly tilt your kayak to the same side you have your paddle blade in the water on. Again…not too much tilt but just enough! You will be able to adjust this as you improve your skills. The edging of you kayak will create less resistance with the crashing wave and also help your kayak surface on the other side of the wave.
5.) It will also be important to get your weight forward by bending at the hips and getting your body weight positioned lower and over the cockpit of the kayak. This will again help reduce the surface area and hit from the wave as well as keep your sprayskirt from imploding!
By having your weight forward in the offensive position you will also pierce the wave and go under it or have it crash over you. Don’t sit up as the wave will smash you hard and more than likely flip you over. Stay forward! Stay forward!
6.) When the wave hits you will be ready. Stay on the paddle stroke and use it as support to stay right side up. This active paddle is then used as a forward stroke to pull you through the wave and out the backside of the big monster. It will also help you to keep your weight forward!
Congratulations. You have successfully paddled into some big water action.
Enjoy the Tuck n’ Duck and take it to the river!
Tyler Curtis
The Tuck n’ Duck is one of the more important techniques to learn when paddling big water and simply learning how to take on bigger waves.
Body position and an active paddle placement is the key to this skill. Your first task is to find yourself a nice sized crashing wave that is located in a safe location. You don’t want to drop into something that can lead to trouble.
You want to utilize your offensive body position.
Offensive Position –this is the position that you want to utilize when getting aggressive to take on wave, holes, and many playboating manoeuvres.
When getting into the aggressive position you want to bend at the hips and not with your back. Try simply putting your chest forward toward your knees. You will quickly notice that the bow of the kayak drops and sits lower in the water. This action will allow more of the bow edges (chin) to be in the water and optimally allow you to track a better straight line in the whitewater. When you are in the aggressive position you can take on waves with more stability. The waves will either crash over your body or if you take them in the chest you will only be pushed into your neutral position rather than kicked into leaning back!
1.) As you start your approach to the wave you want to have good forward momentum to take on the wave. I normally use the idea of ‘when in doubt….Charge.’
2.) When you are approaching the wave you will want to have a slight angle on your kayak. Not too much angle or when you hit the wave it will turn you sideways and surf you. Don’t paddle straight into it!
3.) When you are in the lowest point or trough of the wave you will want to get a paddle stroke into the water. This will give you support to take the hit! Place the paddle at your toes and get it deep into the water for the best stability.
4.) You want to place some edge on your kayak as well. Slightly tilt your kayak to the same side you have your paddle blade in the water on. Again…not too much tilt but just enough! You will be able to adjust this as you improve your skills. The edging of you kayak will create less resistance with the crashing wave and also help your kayak surface on the other side of the wave.
5.) It will also be important to get your weight forward by bending at the hips and getting your body weight positioned lower and over the cockpit of the kayak. This will again help reduce the surface area and hit from the wave as well as keep your sprayskirt from imploding!
By having your weight forward in the offensive position you will also pierce the wave and go under it or have it crash over you. Don’t sit up as the wave will smash you hard and more than likely flip you over. Stay forward! Stay forward!
6.) When the wave hits you will be ready. Stay on the paddle stroke and use it as support to stay right side up. This active paddle is then used as a forward stroke to pull you through the wave and out the backside of the big monster. It will also help you to keep your weight forward!
Congratulations. You have successfully paddled into some big water action.
Enjoy the Tuck n’ Duck and take it to the river!
Tyler Curtis
Views: 134
Comment
© 2012 Created by Webmaster.
Powered by 
.
You need to be a member of Wave Sport to add comments!
Join Wave Sport