The stern pry is one of the most powerful strokes that the stern paddler has. The stern pry is particularly useful in moving water where you need to move the boat NOW. It can also be useful for navigating around docks or shore. The stern pry has a lot of power that will move the boat quickly so it is rarely used when paddling flat water.
When novices learn the stern pry they often do not stop the stroke soon enough and they turn it into a brake. This is the most common mistake with the stern pry. It should not become a brake, so as you learn to do the stern pry be on the look out for that.
To do the stern pry start out by placing the paddle so that the paddle shaft is parallel to the the gunwale and knife the blade into the water (catch). Next you will bring the grip towards your navel, prying the blade out (power) making sure not to turn the stroke into a brake. To finish the stroke you will knife the blade out of the water (recovery) and either repeat or perform your next stroke.
As with all strokes it is best to do the stern pry slowly at first as you learn the proper technique. When doing the stern pry you should also be cautious about pry directly against the gunwale. It is a best practice to try and avoid this as it puts unnecessary wear on the canoe, particularly when paddling wooden or composite canoes. The stern pry also requires a strong paddle. I have broken several inexpensive when I tried to do a stern pry with them.
As always feel free to ask us if you have any questions!
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