BE WATERWISE #15 – STYLE IT: BASICS OF CONTROLLING YOUR BOAT

Whether you're brand new to paddling or just looking to sharpen your skills, this episode builds your confidence where it counts: out there in the current. In Be WaterWise Episode #15 – STYLE IT: Basics of Controlling Your Boat, host Sandra Hyslop, owner of West Coast Packrafting, breaks down the fundamentals of controlling your boat on moving water — so you can stop fighting the river and start flowing with it. What You'll Learn: The forward stroke — your engine on the water. Full arm extension, vertical paddle shaft, core engaged. This is how you move with power and efficiency. Steering strokes — sweep strokes and stern rudders that let you guide, not just go. Blend these into your paddling to move smoothly around obstacles and nail eddy entries and exits. Bracing — your stability toolkit. Low brace for quick support, high brace for stronger correction. Learn to catch the water before the water catches you. "Forward stroke drives, steering stroke guides" — get those two working together and you’ll master river navigation. Want to practice between sessions? Try pivoting your boat on flat water, and build brace recoveries into your edging drills until they feel instinctive — not reactive. Filmed on easy moving water with real beginners in mind, this episode is all about building muscle memory, reading eddies, and finding your flow. 🙏 HUGE thanks to our sponsor @CascadePackrafters for making this series possible. Miss Episode 1? Watch it here →    • Be WaterWise #1 - Your Best Friend: PFDs, ...   Follow along for micro clips, gear tips, and behind-the-scenes prep Subscribe so you never miss a launch #BeWaterWise #BeRiverReady #LevelUpSafely #Packrafting #WhiteWater #PaddlingSafety #AdventurePrep #PackRaft #cultureofsafety BE WATERWISE #15 – STYLE IT: BASICS OF CONTROLLING YOUR BOAT Learn more about the #BeWaterWise series here: https://www.packraft.org/pages/educat... What’s one stroke you've mastered that has changed your paddling game?