Project WWSUP: Blade Down, Body Up

Staying Upright in Rapids: Blade in the Water!

That paddle is not doing any good.

One of the principals that all whitewater canoe paddlers - those on their knees with single-bladed paddles - must learn is the value of keeping the paddle blade in the water as much as possible. With each plateau in a paddler's development - as water difficulty intensifies and boat stability decreases - it seems like the "blade down" principle must be learned again and again.
As I've explored whitewater SUP this principal has been slow to take hold in my habits. Too often I catch myself "air-bracing" or using the paddle as a balance pole. I can confidently report that air bracing and paddle waving in general are ineffective on dynamic currents, waves and hydraulics. At best the "air brace" offers a dramatic flourish to your ensuing plunge.