Jakob Bauer wrote:
Michael Daly schrieb:

Learn to do the high brace with your elbows kept down and close to your
body.

Is it actually still called a high brace then? Maybe it's all more of a
communication/naming problem. I seem to meet about the same number of
people who tell me that I should stay well clear of the high brace
(e.g., William Not Bill Nealy), as of those who tell me that it's
essential to have (e.g. you or
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?51 ). It's hard to
get a clear opinion.

Jakob, go paddle some more difficult whitewater with some people who
have a lot of experience. That's a lot more useful than basing your
technique on what some armchair paddlers tell you.

If you do a high brace correctly, it's not putting your shoulders in
more risk than when you're rolling up. The high brace is pretty much the
last part of your normal roll. The biggest difference is that you don't
have to end up upside down all the way before you can use it. That means
limiting the time spent knocking rocks out of the way with your head and
shoulders, disorientation, getting stuck somewhere upside down, going
with the flow, floating into the wrong place etc. etc..

I'm only talking for myself, but I think that the more techniques you
have to prevent you from ending up upside down, the better. The low
brace, high brace, sculling etc. The same goes for rolling: once you
have a solid roll on each side, try rolling up in as many different ways
as possible, both with and without a paddle. You never know when you
will need it, but believe me, when you do, you will be very glad that
you had the skill! :-)

I just returned from our weekly pool session. Despite having had a solid
roll for about 12 years, I still practice regularly, just to keep the
skill instinctive. The same goes for the different kinds of braces!


--
Wilko van den Bergh wilkoa t)dse(d o tnl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/