Balance brace

Advice
#21

From…?
Balance brace is a somewhat different animal than these - except the balance brace can complement learning other braces because it can leave a paddler feeling more comfortable about coming up from a deep recovery. But I don’t see anyone suggesting it replaces a solid basic brace.



Bracing is taught to beginners, and reliability tends to arrive with other intermediate skills like rolling. Anyone who wants to leave beginner stage is going to be practicing this.



Some coaches are focusing more on the low brace though. It has less shoulder risks (done right) than the high brace, and a failed low brace leaves you time to go for a second try at recovery via a high brace or a balance brace position. A failed high brace tends to turn into a roll, or at least some aggressive sculling up.

#22

Blame the boat

– Last Updated: Feb-04-13 6:25 PM EST –

If It is hard to do ;) As mentioned, some boats make it really easy, others - not so easy, and in others, unless I have my PFD on, I can't do it (a buoyant paddle also helps).

The cockpit should not be too tight, so you can wiggle around, especially if you do not have great flexibility.

I have 2 sizes of the same white water kayak and I can balance brace in both. But the larger size is much easier, both because of the added boat stability when on edge and because I have more room in the cockpit for my legs (both are otherwise with the same seat and snug at the hips). In one sea kayak I had it was almost impossible for me to balance brace, while in the others - piece of cake.

As for usefulness, I use it as part of rolling practice or just to relax in the water while paddling. At the beginning of paddling in cooler/colder water I often do a balance brace to get wet and accustomed to the temps rather than roll or splash (often I do a high-brace splashing my head in the water then recovery without a roll for the same purpose).

For perfecting it, start with a pair of paddle floats on your paddle and gradually reduce the air in them till you don't need them. Arch your back, stay away from the boat with shoulders flat on the water, and dip your forehead in the water with only your nose/mouth above water. If you can't relax with the upper end of the boat away from you (rather than trying to fall on top of you), then there is a fit/flexibility problem and trying to force a balance brace might not ever work...

#23

Thanks!
For the advice, much appreciated. Once the sea out here thaws I’ll keep trying!

#24

Can Jay clarify?
Jay said “twist your hips in the boat before you enter into the water”



So Jay are you saying to turn your body from the hips instead of just rotating the torso? I think this is what you are saying and if so, is it helpful to do this when setting up for a full roll as well?



interesting balance brace article at kayakquixotica here:

http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2010/08/13/square-thoughts-about-the-balance-brace/



I’ve been rolling since last mid summer, but i would like to improve the “finish” phase of the roll. I think the balance brace would be a great way to do this. (and cool off in the drysuit as Celia said)



cheers

Ian.

#25

Balance Brace
Here’s an old post of mine from the Qajaq USA forum that discusses the fine points of the balance brace:



http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/TechniqueForumArchive0_config.pl/read/823

http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/TechniqueForumArchive0_config.pl/read/833



Another interesting technique is the Petrussen Maneuver. Here’s an article that I wrote for Sea Kayaker:



http://www.qajaqusa.org/QK/petrussen_maneuver/Petrussen_Maneuver.html



Greg Stamer

#26

good info
Greg,

good, detailed info on the balance brace. The Petrussen looks interesting, cant wait to get back on the water and try these out.

#27

turning the hips
I can’t speak for Jay, but for my part, I definitely recommend having the space in your boat to rotate your hips, not just your torso. This is useful for everything from forward paddling, to draw strokes, to balance braces. I don’t know many people who can turn their shoulders 90 degrees to their hips! Yet there are lots of times when we want to be able to get our shoulders in line with the length of the boat - so rotating your butt in the seat can make that easier.