Excellent demonstration, seeing the 2 camera angles really helps understand the canoe movement. The grip changes will be invaluable. I like the way you flip the lower hand over before switching sides.
Thank for your kind comments. Yep the hand flip is very important to this style of poling: I got it from Harry Rock the American poler and world champion.
Thanks Ray for creating this outstanding video on canoe poling! Ray asks the question, “Why Pole?” My answer is, why not!!! You can traverse stretches of deep water, you can climb upstream against rapids, and you can control your descent with strong water flow! For me, there is nothing more fun than finding a complex rock garden and shredding the rapid with every type of maneuver possible including pushing upstream or downstream backwards, forwards, sideways, circling rocks, eddy turning behind rocks and surfing waves! England is very well suited for poling because of the many small rivers and streams that are only accessible from bridge crossings. You can go downstream and come back up, or go upstream and then come back down, having had an amazing time exploring your otherwise inaccessible river ways! Ray is the consummate instructor (coach) by breaking down all of the skills necessary to be successful! Watch his videos closely and practice his demonstrations to hone your own abilities! You will love this sport! Whether you have low water, heavy water, shallow water, or deep water conditions, they can all be successfully negotiated with the pole! When I am poling, you will not find a paddle in my canoe as I am totally focused on standing tall and pushing the big stick! Harry Rock, author of Canoe Poling, Canoe Poling video, and American Canoe Association National Paddlesport National Hall of Fame inductee
Nice presentation once again Ray, I like your use of a two picture presentation showing both the surroundings you are in and the close up of your actions, well done. Chears, Nige.
Thank you kindly. Yep I was pleased with the two picture stuff. Mind it took a while to get them synchronised. Strangly when I watch it I tend only to watch one of them but at least it give the context and allows folk the choice. Cheers
A pole really saves the end of your wooden paddle blade. Better view of the rocks and stuff standing as well. Yup the cross over when snubbing can be a problem, I find a twist of the pole helps free it when in rock stream beds, as they do get stuck, If going in a known river where a pole is a necessity I take two one shorter and is stashed for quick exchange if I get the main pole stuck and have to go back and get it, something you are not going to do with a paddle or wading. Poles are a must in the rivers and streams here on the coast of Maine, they get low in the summer as there is not huge amounts of water at their heads.
A lot of interesting and useful information there. Yep I would love to see Maine polers in action. Heard a lot about them over the years and it good the tradition continues. Kind regards, Ray
@@RayGoodwinCanoe The logging industry kept them sharp, the polers, running logs in the rivers was ended back in 1970, I'm coming at if from the start, I was first introduced to poling in OUtdoor Recreation Management course at our local university back in the early 1990,s
I remember learning poling with Ray on the Dee and we had a go at tandem paddling and almost made it to the top of a rapid when laughter ruined it all. Another good one Ray
Well done making sure that poling is introduced as a valuable addition to the general canoeist's tool box of skills. It is a hard sell most places in Canada, but it may finally be getting a bit of notice. Cheers!
Thanks. There are a lot of us in the Uk that enjoy poling and our governing body, British Canoeing, even includes it in the leadership awards which helps.
Thanks Ray - some lovely filming there - worth watching to the end to see the elegant traverse of the rapid - up and down. I recall struggling like crazy to pole up that rapid the first few times! If I had absorbed this video beforehand I'd have stood a better chance! 😁👍
Wow, excellent demos Ray, learnt a lot from these demos, I like the way you explain, and show fast and slow. Superb. I have only done poling once with Richard W of TNR at Bala lake, enjoyable but a struggle, I will rewatch this and have more goes
I have not tried poling, but now you've made me curious. We have lodge pole pine and Jack Pine here that were traditionally used, I might give it a go sometime.
Have fun with it. Wood poles tend to be a bit heavier than I am used to or like but the reality is that was the pole used for centuries. PS be ready for a swim or two.
I can still hear you shouting "Behind you!" at me when we did poling on a moderate water leader training course a few years ago. I find that I struggle to get the pole to sink when it's behind me at the correct angle. I think the problem was/is that I couldn't generate the momentum to allow me to sink the pole at a steeper angle and then still be moving forwards enough to bring the angle down to be more effective in the push phase. I've been practicing on the local lake in a couple of shallow sand bars, but need to practice more somewhere there is a bit of flow. Any day now, hopefully, we'll be allowed to travel for recreational purposes, and I'm going to be focusing on poling! Great video, and very well timed! Thanks, Ray.
@@RayGoodwinCanoe I've not fallen OUT yet but I have fallen over in my boat a few times. Harry Rock is a hero. Because of him there is a picture of me jumping over the thwart. I just had to know....
Cool, liked that, something different. Up the Dyfrdwy, as far as I'm aware the only river that flows into, and out of a lake, retaining its name, in Wales anyway. Your almost up to the Twrch on river right. I have actually been further up the river with a 5.5mtr rib, full spate, very scary full on brown horribleness.
Great local knowledge! I have often poled and lined up the Twrch as far as the green bridge using it as an exercise on advanced courses. I can't think of another river that does that in Wales. In Scotland the River Spey flows into and out of Loch Inch. Must be a lot more but none coming to mind.
Yes you do. This is a glass fibre one from Endless River. There is a link to their page in the description below the video. Yep it's Llyn Tegid, it is up the far end from Bala where the Afon Dyfrdwy (upper Dee) comes in.
Great video Ray, my plan is to pole back up the other side of the island at the rapids at SY this year. Really learnt new stuff from you, Rose and the gang on the Spey trip. One question, when you edge the boat you edge it on the outside of the turn. Is that something specific to poling?
Hi. Outside lean is used in sea kayaks and ww racers so not especially. If I can get the next video filmed in the week there will be more of an explanation to follow. Yep SY up the side of the island can be good in the right water level and will be awesome practise. Let me know how you get on. Yep I loved that trip on the Spey. Great group and company. Keep well.
I think most of us go for a 12 foot pole and that seems to suit most. I can imagine that a very tall person would like something longer but that would not be easy to purchase.
If you practice standing on one leg with the gunwale nearly under the water, when you unintentionally find yourself in that position in the middle of a rapid, you know what to do about it.
Depends on the canoe. With my Mad River Explorer and Wenonah Prospector that was certain the case and a very good practise tip. This one is a bit more problematic when you get to that stage. Yep but good exercise tip. Thanks.
Excellent demonstration, seeing the 2 camera angles really helps understand the canoe movement. The grip changes will be invaluable. I like the way you flip the lower hand over before switching sides.
Thank for your kind comments. Yep the hand flip is very important to this style of poling: I got it from Harry Rock the American poler and world champion.
Thanks Ray for creating this outstanding video on canoe poling! Ray asks the question, “Why Pole?” My answer is, why not!!! You can traverse stretches of deep water, you can climb upstream against rapids, and you can control your descent with strong water flow! For me, there is nothing more fun than finding a complex rock garden and shredding the rapid with every type of maneuver possible including pushing upstream or downstream backwards, forwards, sideways, circling rocks, eddy turning behind rocks and surfing waves! England is very well suited for poling because of the many small rivers and streams that are only accessible from bridge crossings. You can go downstream and come back up, or go upstream and then come back down, having had an amazing time exploring your otherwise inaccessible river ways! Ray is the consummate instructor (coach) by breaking down all of the skills necessary to be successful! Watch his videos closely and practice his demonstrations to hone your own abilities! You will love this sport! Whether you have low water, heavy water, shallow water, or deep water conditions, they can all be successfully negotiated with the pole! When I am poling, you will not find a paddle in my canoe as I am totally focused on standing tall and pushing the big stick! Harry Rock, author of Canoe Poling, Canoe Poling video, and American Canoe Association National Paddlesport National Hall of Fame inductee
Thank you for your kind and helpful comments Harry. You have a major influence on my poling. Thank you again.
Nice presentation once again Ray, I like your use of a two picture presentation showing both the surroundings you are in and the close up of your actions, well done.
Chears,
Nige.
Thank you kindly. Yep I was pleased with the two picture stuff. Mind it took a while to get them synchronised. Strangly when I watch it I tend only to watch one of them but at least it give the context and allows folk the choice. Cheers
Thanks for the video the last one I watched was awhile back. Enjoying them all
Glad you like them! Hopefully I can put them out more regularly now travel restrictions have eased here.
A pole really saves the end of your wooden paddle blade. Better view of the rocks and stuff standing as well. Yup the cross over when snubbing can be a problem, I find a twist of the pole helps free it when in rock stream beds, as they do get stuck, If going in a known river where a pole is a necessity I take two one shorter and is stashed for quick exchange if I get the main pole stuck and have to go back and get it, something you are not going to do with a paddle or wading. Poles are a must in the rivers and streams here on the coast of Maine, they get low in the summer as there is not huge amounts of water at their heads.
A lot of interesting and useful information there. Yep I would love to see Maine polers in action. Heard a lot about them over the years and it good the tradition continues. Kind regards, Ray
@@RayGoodwinCanoe The logging industry kept them sharp, the polers, running logs in the rivers was ended back in 1970, I'm coming at if from the start, I was first introduced to poling in OUtdoor Recreation Management course at our local university back in the early 1990,s
Bold one Ray. Such an overlooked addition to the arsenal. Estuaries, shallow tidal compromises... times when a pole was needed and I didn't have one.
Yep the number of times it is useful. Looking forward to being out and about this summer and having a catch up. Regards Ray
@@RayGoodwinCanoe One fine day. Patience!
Nice one Ray. Great little introduction. There is so much in this, I’ll be watching it a few times.
Thanks Mike. Yep a lot of thought went into this. Now to film the 2nd video.
I remember learning poling with Ray on the Dee and we had a go at tandem paddling and almost made it to the top of a rapid when laughter ruined it all. Another good one Ray
Yep I remember that. So often tandem paddling, for me, ends up either in the water or in fits of laughter or both.
Well done making sure that poling is introduced as a valuable addition to the general canoeist's tool box of skills. It is a hard sell most places in Canada, but it may finally be getting a bit of notice. Cheers!
Thanks. There are a lot of us in the Uk that enjoy poling and our governing body, British Canoeing, even includes it in the leadership awards which helps.
after years of ignoring poling, you know what I'm doing this summer thanks Ray, keep well
Glad to have provided a little inspiration. Thanks
@@RayGoodwinCanoe indeed sir, very much so. Thank you
Nice one Ray. Great introduction. This had got so much in it. I’ll be watching it a good few times.
So good you commented twice. Thanks.
@@RayGoodwinCanoe you said every little helps
@@RayGoodwinCanoe you said etc.
@@MrMjt888 Tea splutter moment! Well done. Looking forward to seeing you.
Thanks Ray - some lovely filming there - worth watching to the end to see the elegant traverse of the rapid - up and down. I recall struggling like crazy to pole up that rapid the first few times! If I had absorbed this video beforehand I'd have stood a better chance! 😁👍
Many thanks. I am now planning on the second part down at the Mill.
Awesome video Ray, very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, excellent demos Ray, learnt a lot from these demos, I like the way you explain, and show fast and slow. Superb. I have only done poling once with Richard W of TNR at Bala lake, enjoyable but a struggle, I will rewatch this and have more goes
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the great video again!
My pleasure!
I have not tried poling, but now you've made me curious. We have lodge pole pine and Jack Pine here that were traditionally used, I might give it a go sometime.
Have fun with it. Wood poles tend to be a bit heavier than I am used to or like but the reality is that was the pole used for centuries. PS be ready for a swim or two.
@@RayGoodwinCanoe it's still pretty cold here, in a couple month maybe. And I am enticed for sure. Thanks.
I can still hear you shouting "Behind you!" at me when we did poling on a moderate water leader training course a few years ago. I find that I struggle to get the pole to sink when it's behind me at the correct angle. I think the problem was/is that I couldn't generate the momentum to allow me to sink the pole at a steeper angle and then still be moving forwards enough to bring the angle down to be more effective in the push phase. I've been practicing on the local lake in a couple of shallow sand bars, but need to practice more somewhere there is a bit of flow. Any day now, hopefully, we'll be allowed to travel for recreational purposes, and I'm going to be focusing on poling!
Great video, and very well timed! Thanks, Ray.
That made me chuckle. You won't be the only one I shout that to. Anyway keep practising and I will see you on or in the water sometime. Keep well.
My absolute favourite method of locomotion. It's a definite learning curve though 😃
It really is! I took so many swims pushing the poling back in my early day of trying.
@@RayGoodwinCanoe I've not fallen OUT yet but I have fallen over in my boat a few times.
Harry Rock is a hero. Because of him there is a picture of me jumping over the thwart. I just had to know....
need to try
try and also have fun. Cheers
Have fun with it.
Cool, liked that, something different. Up the Dyfrdwy, as far as I'm aware the only river that flows into, and out of a lake, retaining its name, in Wales anyway. Your almost up to the Twrch on river right. I have actually been further up the river with a 5.5mtr rib, full spate, very scary full on brown horribleness.
Great local knowledge! I have often poled and lined up the Twrch as far as the green bridge using it as an exercise on advanced courses. I can't think of another river that does that in Wales. In Scotland the River Spey flows into and out of Loch Inch. Must be a lot more but none coming to mind.
Great video, very thorough. Think I need a pole, recommendations? And Bala lake I presume leading to the lower Tryweryn?
Yes you do. This is a glass fibre one from Endless River. There is a link to their page in the description below the video. Yep it's Llyn Tegid, it is up the far end from Bala where the Afon Dyfrdwy (upper Dee) comes in.
Great video Ray, my plan is to pole back up the other side of the island at the rapids at SY this year. Really learnt new stuff from you, Rose and the gang on the Spey trip. One question, when you edge the boat you edge it on the outside of the turn. Is that something specific to poling?
Hi. Outside lean is used in sea kayaks and ww racers so not especially. If I can get the next video filmed in the week there will be more of an explanation to follow. Yep SY up the side of the island can be good in the right water level and will be awesome practise. Let me know how you get on. Yep I loved that trip on the Spey. Great group and company. Keep well.
Very cool! How much would you say pole length should vary depending on size/height of the person?
I think most of us go for a 12 foot pole and that seems to suit most. I can imagine that a very tall person would like something longer but that would not be easy to purchase.
More wondrous eye candy, thank you.
The poling I hope rather than me in particular.😅 But anyway thank you.
If you practice standing on one leg with the gunwale nearly under the water, when you unintentionally find yourself in that position in the middle of a rapid, you know what to do about it.
Depends on the canoe. With my Mad River Explorer and Wenonah Prospector that was certain the case and a very good practise tip. This one is a bit more problematic when you get to that stage. Yep but good exercise tip. Thanks.