Greenland forward stroke
From KayakWiki
The Sliding Stroke
See Greenland sliding stroke and Storm paddle stroke.
The Canted Stroke http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl/read/4860
Many folks go through an initial period where their paddle feels to be diving uncontrollably with a canted stroke. Hopefully someone who has recent experience with this will chime in and offer you advice. This can be amplified by watching your paddle blades, rather than focusing your eyes ahead, as you may tend to lean toward the side of your stroke which will cause the canted paddle to dive. For a strong forward stroke you need to drive forward, not lean from side to side. For other kayakers it's simply a matter of getting a feel for what the blade is doing and then learning how to control and take advantage of it. At first your canted stroke will come and go but with time will become easy to perform.
Refer to the picture (right) of Kaleraq Bech for a good overview of a Greenland stroke. The catch is very relaxed so the paddle enters somewhat closer to your body than is typical with a Euro paddle. Only his thumbs and forefingers hold the paddle loom (like holding a beer bottle by the neck). Note how low his pushing hand is (it doesn't have to go much higher than this), and his elbows pointing downwards, yet free to move. Note too that you don't have to keep the paddle horizontal, an angle of 45 degrees to the horizon is very common. His paddle will accelerate to a long finish and will exit the water behind his hip.
You will often hear "whatever works" or that there are as many Greenland forward stroke variations as there are Greenlanders. This does not mean that you can ignore fundamentals and still expect to have an efficient stroke, but that adhering to a single, rigid style is not necessary, or beneficial.
I think it's best to hook up a knotmeter to your kayak and learn what works best rather than trying to base your technique on a mental model that may or may not be relevant. Also realize that your technique will change over time. Currently I obtain my highest speeds with a forward canted blade, but I do experiment with other techniques, included a reversed cant, and do my best to keep an open mind.
A forward canting blade has a few other advantages, a blade will cant forward naturally if you are holding the blade roots rather than with all fingers on the loom (since the palm of your hand is canted forward when held with a neutral wrist), the forward cant also helps the long paddle blades to bury quickly and completely.
Regarding a canted blade "pulling the kayak down" there are some canted blade techniques that aim to lift the stern to reduce stern squat. See kussarsarluni paarneq at http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl/read/4989.
The physics of what is really happening, or the degree of stern lift actually achieved, is still very much up-in-the-air.
The forward cant is not my personal discovery, it is the common method taught in Greenland and is documented as being used in other parts of the arctic. A rendering of Maligiaq Padilla's stroke appears at http://www.seakayakermag.com/2000/june2000/JuneHeath1.htm and is shown above. The water level is not shown; it is about the midline of the diagram. This stroke is taught in Greenland as an advanced method to increase power and speed, not as a workout technique.
In the end it's all about what works best for you, but I place great weight on what the Greenlander's teach, and I find them very difficult to beat in the races. If you find that a reversed cant, or no cant, works best for you then work to refine it. Expect that your stroke will change significantly over time. The stroke I use today is very different to what I used 10 years ago. YMMV.
The Crunch
http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl/read/1335
Rather than pushing heavily against a back rest, for a strong forward stroke in a low-volume Greenland SOF, I perform an alternating torso "crunch", leaning forward, as taught by Maligiaq Padilla and Kaleraq Bech. This requires very little pressure, or none, against the backrest. From what I observed in Greenland, this appears to be a very common technique, especially for sprinting, or touring at high speeds. With so little knee bend, it is very powerful and easy, to lift the opposite knee during a paddle stroke and pull your torso forward. It feels similar to performing a sit-up, with someone holding your legs. Your torso will start fully erect and then "crunch forward", to powerfully drive the paddle during the last portion of the forward stroke. The timing is critical. This technique uses big muscle groups and was quite a revelation, to me, once I learned to properly integrate it into my stroke. This should be a smooth movement. Kaleraq Bech warns that your kayak should not bob-up-and-down, as a result.
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