Hobie I12S User Manual

Page 15

HOBIEKAYAKS.COM

Paddling
You can choose to paddle, pedal or combine the two. These

guidelines will help you to get started.

To start, sit in your kayak. Your backside should be all the

way back in the seat and your knees comfortably bent. To

find the proper footwell, straighten your legs all the way out

and then bring them back one “well”. If your legs are too

outstretched, you may experience strain on your lower back.

If your knees are bent too much, you may end up knocking

your kneecaps while paddling.

For proper hand placement on your paddle, start with your

hands about a shoulder’s width apart and centered. If you

place the center of the paddle on top of your head, your

elbows should form slightly less than a 90 degree angle.

There should be an equal amount of paddle shaft beyond

each of your hands.

Some paddles may have the blades offset, or “feathered”,

at some degree from parallel. A feathered paddle presents

less surface area for the wind to catch as that blade moves

forward through the air. Some paddles have a flattened spot

along the paddle shaft that will help keep your “control” hand

in a fixed position. However, a special technique must be

used to get each blade in the water. If the paddle is right-

hand controlled (when the right blade is held vertical, the left

blade “scoop” is pointed mostly up), the right hand will stay

tight and the left hand loose. To learn the process, hold the

paddle tight in your right hand and loose in your left. Using

the right hand, rotate the paddle blade back and forth; it

should spin in your left hand. Now take a stroke on your right,

then cock your right wrist back (left hand staying loose and

somewhat open) and take a stroke on your left. If using a

left-hand control paddle, reverse the process. The left hand

stays tight and the right hand loose.

The basic paddle stroke will give you forward power. Place

a paddle blade in the water near your toes. Pull the paddle

blade back alongside the boat to approximately your hip area

while your opposite hand and paddle blade move forward.

Then lift the first paddle blade out of the water while lowering

the second blade into the water and take a stroke with the

other side.

If you pull the paddle out and away from the hull in an arc, it

will force the bow of the boat to swing away from the paddle

blade. This is called a “sweep stroke” and is used to turn the

boat.

Relax your hands when paddling; a tight grip is not neces-

sary! Sit with good posture while keeping your torso verti-

cal.

For greater efficiency use not only your arms, but your torso

and shoulders as well. Start out easy until you get the feel of

the paddle and the steering strokes.