Strokes Course
Build a rock-solid toolbox of whitewater paddling skills, one essential stroke at a time.
This course is designed to help whitewater paddlers develop a broad, reliable set of technical skills by focusing on the key paddle strokes that underpin confident and controlled river running. You’ll work through essential strokes such as efficient forward paddling, draws, rudders, sweeps, and recoveries, learning not just how they look in isolation but how they blend and adapt in real whitewater situations.
Most of the practice is based on flat water, allowing you to slow things down, build strong fundamentals, improve blade awareness, and develop skills that carry through to the river.
Whether you work through the lessons step by step or dip in as needed, this course provides a clear, structured approach to becoming a more skilful, adaptable, and well-rounded whitewater paddler.
Subscribe to access the full course and all of the OWW coursesCourse Modules
Course Introduction
- Strokes Course Introduction
- Safety Lesson
Foundations
- Elbow in line with force
- Paddlers box
- Knuckles
- Climbing blade
Support Strokes
- Support strokes introduction
- Low recovery
- Low brace
- High recovery
- Sculling for support
Sweep strokes
- Sweeps Strokes Introduction
- Forwards Sweep
- Reverse Sweep
- Blade Support
Forwards stroke
- Forwards Stroke Introduction
- Catch Phase
- Power Phase
- Recovery Phase
- Adapting Cadence
Rudders
- Rudders Introduction
- Stern Rudder Neutral Position
- Stern Rudder Direction
- Stern Rudder Exercises
- Bow Rudders and Draws
Draw strokes
- Classic draw
- Sculling draw
- Hanging draw
Course Wrap Up
- Course Wrap Up
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- A whole year of learning for less than a day of on water coaching
Anja, Norway
Great videos that really shows all the aspects of different strokes and skills. would recommend it for both novice kayakers as well as experienced paddlers. Lots of useful tips for me as a coach too.
Kevin, UK
This course is brilliant - very well put together with high definition footage and easy to understand descriptions of techniques. I have used much of the course material on the water and in theory and it is faultless. I just keep going over and over and it never gets old. Great job guys - I thoroughly recommend to beginner, intermediate and enthusiasts alike - great stuff
Lee, USA
Videos are brilliantly shot, simple to follow. Love the use of multiple angles, really helps to understand the full picture of a movement. Great resource, amazing!
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