The Power-Face Reverse Sweep

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Key Points
Power Face Presented to the Water
Elbows Down and Knuckles Up
Water Arm Elbow Bent
Horizontal Shaft Angle
Paddle Placement Perpendicular to Boat
Paddle Close to Body
Timing (Paddle then Body)
C to C Motion
Head Stays Down to the End
Recovery: Slice Blade out with Knuckles Forward

With the kayak underway, the paddler reaches aft with a high brace. He leans out, supporting his weight with the paddle and setting the boat on edge for a tight turn.

The paddle comes forward through the water as the paddler unwinds his torso. Here, the forward sweep is complete and the paddler has uncocked his wrists and started skimming the blade, power-face down, toward the stern.

The paddle blade has skimmed aft while the kayak remains on edge. The paddler has begun to drop his wrists to set the paddle blade more vertically in the water for the next sweep.

The kayak continues to turn around as the next sweep pushes forward. To complete a 180° turn, the paddler would repeat the last three steps shown here.