White Water Strategy – Eddy Hopping

In any good white water canoe and kayak course (perhaps your BCU four star or five star training, or your safety and rescue course), you’ll learn several different river running strategies. One important one is called Eddy Hopping.

Eddy hopping is illustrated here-

With all the paddlers in seperate eddies, the leader will paddle down to the next one.  They will then turn and signal for the second paddler to paddle down one eddy (to the one the leader just left).  Then, on signal, the third paddler will paddle to where the second was, and the fourth to where the third was until all paddlers have moved down one eddy.

This strategy is very simple and effective, and allows the leader to select eddies which are achievable for the group.

For details of leadership and safety canoe and kayak training, BCU courses and canoe coaching or kayak coaching contact Kim Bull.  Courses run throughout the North East, Cumbria and the borders of Scotland.

Email – kim@kimbull.co.uk