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WHITEWATER INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES

how to perform a hanging stern draw

Simon here from AQ Outdoors.

Today we’re looking at the hanging stern draw. This is one of those strokes that doesn’t get taught early, but once you learn it, you start using it everywhere. It lets you move across current smoothly, set up for features, and stay stable on edge without needing a bunch of forward strokes.

Think of it less as pulling the boat… and more as letting the river push you where you want to go.

Quick links

• What the Hanging Stern Draw Does
• Prerequisites
• Choosing a Practice Spot
• Body Position & Blade Placement
• The “Beach Ball” Cue
• What It Should Feel Like
• Common Problems & Fixes
• Key Takeaways

What the Hanging Stern Draw Does

The goal of the stroke is to generate cross-current momentum.

Instead of paddling hard across the river, you place an active blade in the current and let the water build pressure on it. That pressure moves the kayak sideways while keeping speed and stability.

You’ll use it to:

• Cross eddy lines cleanly
• Set up for drops
• Move around waves and holes
• Maintain edge control in current
• Paddle more efficiently and fluidly

The more dynamic the river gets, the more useful this stroke becomes.

Prerequisites

Before working on hanging stern draws, you should already be comfortable with:

• Carving
• Eddy turns using sweep strokes
• Crossing eddy lines with edge control

If those feel shaky, you’ll want to check out more video’s in our skill series. This stroke depends heavily on boat control.

Choosing a Practice Spot

Where you practice matters a lot, look for:

1. A clear eddy line
   Calm water feeding into clean current. Avoid boiling or chaotic water.
2. Wide current
   You need space to accelerate across the river. If it’s narrow, the move ends before it works.
3. A recoverable eddy
   You want to repeat the move over and over without a long paddle back upstream.

Green water builds power. Turbulence kills it.

Body Position & Blade Placement

Boat Angle

Your kayak should be angled across the current, not pointing downstream. The boat should accelerate sideways.

Paddle Entry

Place the blade behind your hips in the current. You are not pulling the boat.
You are holding a blade in moving water and letting the river load it.

Use the power face of the blade.

Top Hand Position

Your top hand should look like you’re checking a watch.
Roughly around eye level.

Too low = no power
Too flat = boat turns downstream

Body Rotation

Power comes from your torso, not your arms. Rotate your body and hold tension against the current.

The “Beach Ball” Cue

Imagine squeezing a beach ball between the stern of your kayak and the paddle blade.
As the current loads the blade, keep squeezing.

If you maintain pressure, the boat continues accelerating across the river. If you relax or let the blade slip, the move dies immediately.

What It Should Feel Like

• The kayak accelerates sideways
• The paddle loads with pressure
• The boat becomes more stable on edge
• You take zero forward strokes

When done correctly, the river is doing the work.

Common Problems & Fixes

Boat turns downstream

Cause: Paddle on the back face or blade too flat
Fix: Rotate blade to power face, raise top hand

No power on the blade

Cause: Bad eddy line or turbulent water
Fix: Find cleaner green current

No sideways acceleration

Cause: Wrong exit angle from eddy
Fix: Leave the eddy with a slight upstream angle

Stroke feels weak

Cause: Reaching too close to the boat
Fix: Reach further away and rotate your torso

Key Takeaways

• The hanging stern draw builds cross-current momentum
• The river powers the stroke, not your arms
• Top hand near eye level
• Boat angled across current
• Power on the front face of the blade
• Maintain pressure to maintain speed

Mastering this stroke is a big step toward fluid paddling. It turns crossing current from effort into timing.

Want more stroke breakdowns and river skills?
Check out our other whitewater technique articles and videos.

Happy paddling.