Charles, I'm a fan of your paddling videos. Really love seeing the fancy paddling in the Grumman! You really show it's about the skills, not the gear. I'm a Minnesota based paddler, but am also a Maine Guide, and have done quite a few trips there with veteran Maine Guides who seem to be regarded as the bearers of the fabled "Northwoods Stroke." I think you're correct, there is plenty of room for interpretative and style differences from person to person. That said, I see a few differences between the stroke as you're demonstrating it, and the way those with deep roots in the Maine guiding tradition perform it. Primarily, the Mainers seem to have more of a forward rocking lean into the stroke with their upper body, and their lower hand has almost no movement, pure fulcrum. You appear to maintain a vertical torso, and your lower hand is drawing back through the stroke. Jane Baron (who guided with the Conovers, who in turn credit old time Guide Mick Fahey with much of their style) teaches it this way, and it's also how Chip Cochrane, a third generation Allagash Guide, paddles. I got to watch Chip paddle 90 miles on the Allagash last year, his rocking rhythm is almost hypnotic. I hope to get up to Manitoba to improve my Canadian Style before too long! For what it's worth, I like playing around with my version of the Northwoods stroke, but the "Canadian J" is a much more natural long distance cruising stroke for me. -Scott
Thanks for the comments - I agree that more rocking in body would be closer to what I envision as well. I have another short clip that should be closer (this is why the 'alternative' is in parentheses see: ruclips.net/video/Gk9YKE4hHnU/видео.html) - still too much motion in lower grip hand.
Charles, I'm a fan of your paddling videos. Really love seeing the fancy paddling in the Grumman! You really show it's about the skills, not the gear. I'm a Minnesota based paddler, but am also a Maine Guide, and have done quite a few trips there with veteran Maine Guides who seem to be regarded as the bearers of the fabled "Northwoods Stroke." I think you're correct, there is plenty of room for interpretative and style differences from person to person. That said, I see a few differences between the stroke as you're demonstrating it, and the way those with deep roots in the Maine guiding tradition perform it. Primarily, the Mainers seem to have more of a forward rocking lean into the stroke with their upper body, and their lower hand has almost no movement, pure fulcrum. You appear to maintain a vertical torso, and your lower hand is drawing back through the stroke. Jane Baron (who guided with the Conovers, who in turn credit old time Guide Mick Fahey with much of their style) teaches it this way, and it's also how Chip Cochrane, a third generation Allagash Guide, paddles. I got to watch Chip paddle 90 miles on the Allagash last year, his rocking rhythm is almost hypnotic.
I hope to get up to Manitoba to improve my Canadian Style before too long! For what it's worth, I like playing around with my version of the Northwoods stroke, but the "Canadian J" is a much more natural long distance cruising stroke for me. -Scott
Thanks for the comments - I agree that more rocking in body would be closer to what I envision as well. I have another short clip that should be closer (this is why the 'alternative' is in parentheses see: ruclips.net/video/Gk9YKE4hHnU/видео.html) - still too much motion in lower grip hand.