: I am not sure where the point of a paddle working in pure "drag"
: mode turns into working into pure "wing" mode. Sculling is
: pretty much pure "wing", and pulling straight back with the
: blade perpendicular to the applied force is pure "drag". It is
: fairly clear that the forward stroke is quite different from sculling, but
: an efficient stroke is rarely a straight pull backwards either. Reality is
: probably some place in between regardless of the kind of paddle you use.

I agree. Even the text on efficient swimming mentions the key is to develop a stroke that makes the most of lift when the mechanics of the stroke/hand permit it. All strokes will incorporate both drag and lift. Yet some swim coaches still teach to drag your hand back without spilling water, where modern technique is to move your hands in an "S" pattern as a foil. Likewise some kayaking coaches still teach that water must not spill from the blade, and teach a pure drag stroke where water does not flow across the blade, rather the aim is to stab and pull, creating maximum turbulence behind the blade. As you say, reality is probably between the two extremes, and is probably very dependent on the type of equipment used.

: A kind of fun exersize is to try to move your kayak forward with a purely
: sculling type motion. Start with a sculling draw stroke and rotate it
: around so it pulls you forward without pulling your hands back along the
: boat. It works fairly well and shows what a purely lift or wing based
: stroke can accomplish.

An exercise that I use is for the student to get a feel for the "kick" that is possible on exit with a canted blade. I have them slice the blade vertically into the water just behind the hip, cant it slightly so that the top edge is tilting forward and then pop it straight out. If repeated on each side with the correct blade angle, you can move steadily forward at a knot or two. Although you are lifting water, you are also getting a boost forward, which becomes useful when added to the exit phase of your normal stroke. Also, this works very well with a traditional Greenland stroke, that usually emphasizes the exit of the stroke (easy catch, most power applied on last two thirds of the stroke.

Greg Stamer