There are specific locations around the world where there tends to be confused water and/or rebound that either provides a challenge to a paddler's stability or can prove to be unmanageable in terms of one's ability to stay upright. Some of these places with the right intensity and safety conditions/support can provide a useful gauge for your readiness to paddle in bigger water or on runs that have similar sections. Some high quality runs do have significant sections of rebound going past steep shorelines or docks that you have to be capable of paddling through to reasonably justify your being able to do such a run at all.

If you can't maintain decent paddle technique then don't screw up your technique just practicing getting gripped in these kind of conditions.

Beyond assessing your paddling technique through slop:

• practice 3 strokes then a brace - this is Boyan's drill for emergency paddling to keep some momentum while staying upright. It gets you practice for your brace on both sides (do you neglect one side due to feather?) and gives you a mantra to focus on and help keep going in turbulent water.
• practice throwing your legs out for stability - some prefer both legs on one side for the best stability (Oscar C. & Boyan Z.), tuck your paddle under one arm near the blade for a long moment arm of stability also.
• practice sculling on both sides with your wing paddle - a very handy skill to have when you are not moving forward and want to stay upright
• use such locations to practice your rough water remounts!!
• imagine falling in or throwing your legs out in the water as if you have to stop to keep from running into something - see how fast you slow down from either. This response needs to be automatic when you really need to stop.
• …

Discussion

• Whatcom Paddlers discussion (DJ Jacobson/Dawid Mocke)
• …

Advanced Examples