Lacing it up: River Pry

In the progression of our stroke mechanics, the most basic and most straightforward to build upon is the “river pry.” While I am aware that there is some debate in the world of whitewater canoeing about whether this stroke is an effective progression, it enables new paddlers to tackle more challenging moves more quickly. The following stroke in this set would be a cross-forward stroke, but the river pry is a strong addition in complement. The river pry, as a replacement for the cross forward, allows progression to topics surrounding hydrology and boat angle, while we work to perfect the cross forward.

The river pry’s primary role is as a corrective stroke. With the forward stroke generating much of the momentum, the river pry applies direction and helps track the canoe. While the cross forward stroke has a similar effect, it also gains further forward progress. The river pry, on the other hand, is a quick way to adjust your line. From a beginner standpoint, this stroke is best used for tracking in current and crossing eddy lines. It should be noted as well that the river pry can become a crutch for new paddlers or present itself as a holdover from an expedition canoe background. The reason for this is that, as a stern paddler in a tandem boat, much like a raft, the river pry is much more efficient.

The river pry begins at the same stage of your forward stroke as your recovery. As your blade reaches your hip, rather than pulling it out of the water and recovering and recoiling, you let the blade flow behind your hips. As you let the blade fallow and track, your top hand will naturally dip, putting your paddle shaft at a 20-30 degree angle. As this is happening, you will also rotate your shoulders to your own side, aligning your core as a base for the stroke. From here, apply opposite pressure to your bottom and top hand, leveraging your paddle shaft against your gunwale and pushing your blade away from you. This motion will effectively push your bow in the opposite direction while the forward stroke propels you forward. From here, you will perform the same recovery as your forward stroke.

The river pry will continue to serve you throughout your paddling career and can be performed, albeit slightly differently, regardless of craft.