How to Paddle a Canoe Canadian-Style

Paddling a canoe Canadian-style takes some practice. The term "Canadian-style" can be traced back to Omer Stringer, a Canadian solo paddler who used a wood canoe. Omer changed the way soloists canoed. Previously, a soloist would sit in the middle of the canoe to paddle and thereby lose a great deal of control over the canoe. Omer started a style of sitting to one side of the canoe, which creates greater control.

Things You'll Need

  • Life jacket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put the canoe in water deep enough that it will not scrape on the bottom or on rocks when you add weight (yourself).

    • 2

      Step into the middle of the canoe while bracing yourself against a dock or the shore, so the canoe does not capsize.

    • 3

      Situate yourself just behind the middle of the canoe close to the gunnel (the strip along top of the side) of your preferred side to paddle.

    • 4

      Sit with your knees bent and your legs underneath you, against your behind. The canoe will tilt to that side, but you will have more control over your paddling.

    • 5

      Use a J-stroke to move the canoe forward in a straight line.