Duffek

Also known as a bow rudder, a duffek stoke is a powerful steering stroke executed by placing the paddle blade in the water slightly forward of the cockpit with the blade oriented approximately parallel to the keel. This requires the arm opposite the active blade to cross the kayak. This arm should be kept as low as possible - either across the forehead or across the chest at shoulder height. Keeping the arm low and supported by another part of the body reduces the risk of shoulder separation.

Named after Milo Duffek, a member of the Czechoslovakian national whitewater slalom team. Duffek's namesake single stroke replaced a series of strokes, making the passage through slalom gates tighter and faster.

Especially useful in whitewater and slalom kayaking.

A Duffek is the main way to execute an eddy turn. In simple terms, the duffek consists of a bow draw stroke which ends in a forward stroke as the kayak turns from cross current to upcurrent. The goal is to keep the bow of the kayak in the same spot in the eddy. The Duffek is often preceded by a sweep stroke to initiate the turn.