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.

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.

Brian Nystrom wrote:
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.

Seriously? What about guidelines for side skulling?

It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

Courtney

"Davej" wrote in message
ups.com...
Brian Nystrom wrote:
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.

Seriously? What about guidelines for side skulling?

Courtney wrote:
It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

So why not just use a high brace with the elbow down? A low brace on a wave
that's shoulder high is not exactly realistic.

I don't think that throwing a good brace away just because there's a risk is a
good plan. I've seen lots of instructors teach a high brace with elbows tight
to the side. Even the Duffek is taught with top arm in front of the body. I
teach side sculls and running draws with the arm in front of the body too. All
these approaches minimize risk to the shoulder. As a paddler with bad
shoulders, I wouldn't do these things if I though they would be a problem.

This sounds like a liability fear more than good instruction policy. "First we
kill all the lawyers..."

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:
Courtney wrote:

It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.


So why not just use a high brace with the elbow down? A low brace on a
wave that's shoulder high is not exactly realistic.

I don't think that throwing a good brace away just because there's a
risk is a good plan. I've seen lots of instructors teach a high brace
with elbows tight to the side. Even the Duffek is taught with top arm
in front of the body. I teach side sculls and running draws with the
arm in front of the body too. All these approaches minimize risk to the
shoulder. As a paddler with bad shoulders, I wouldn't do these things
if I though they would be a problem.

This sounds like a liability fear more than good instruction policy.

I don't doubt that at all.

Personally, I use whatever technique works, whether it's "recommended"
or "approved" by anyone is irrelevent to me. I'm sure that some of the
bracing techniques I've used in big (~6') breaking waves would make an
ACA/BCU instructor choke, but they've saved my ass from potentially
dangerous side-surfing situations and I never felt any strain on my
shoulders. To me, it's a question of which is a bigger risk.

"First we kill all the lawyers..."

Of course! ;-)

Courtney wrote:
It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

Courtney

I'm getting the impression that the guideline is to try to hide your
pits.

Courtney wrote:
It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

Courtney


Does the ACA actually suggest using the back side of the paddle?

Bracing with the back face is part of the definition of a low brace. I
can't see how you would do it otherwise.

Steve

Davej wrote:
Courtney wrote:
It is encouraged that a low brace is used by keeping the elbow down and
using the back side of the paddle blade to skull.

Does the ACA actually suggest using the back side of the paddle?

Brian Nystrom wrote in news:Fdmzg.1101$eG.206
@trndny08:

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.