It's interesting that I'm seeing people not knowing that the ACA doesn't
encourage a high braces with the elbow up (or arm extended) anymore. When I
started teaching whitewater and took the class about 10 years ago they told
us it then. I haven't checked their web site out lately but I wonder why
they're not making it known. I do recall that my instructor trainer still
called the low elbow a high brace but we were also using the backside of the
blade as well. It's easy once a person is used to doing it and can be used
without a problem in big water. I happened to notice (because of this
thread) that I used it three times the other afternoon in class III / IV
with side kicking waves and holes.

Courtney

wrote in message
ups.com...
I must have missed the memo from ACA,or perhaps their web site is out
of date, but several places there is mention of using both high and low
braces, for example in the Level 3 and Level 4 Assessments. Only low
brace appears in the Level 1 skill set, though, so Brian may be right
WRT beginning paddlers.

The elbow tucked down position is the one I teach, after a long lecture
about dislocations.

Steve

John Fereira wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote in :

Davej wrote:
I have seen this discussed in the past with a high degree of
uncertainty and confusion. Have basic hand position guidelines now
been
settled upon? Thanks.

What has happened is that the ACA and BCU are no longer teaching or
recommending high bracing.

When did that happen? As of a couple of years ago a high brace for
support
(both from a stationary position and on the move) were required for the
BCU
3 star assessment.