Becky Mason teaches her students to master the four cornerstone strokes. 

Well-known canoeist and experienced instructor, Becky Mason, is all too familiar with this. “I've found it's quite easy teaching my students to manoeuvre their canoe if they first limit themselves to the four main cornerstones of canoeing,” says Mason.

Mason’s four main cornerstones, which include the forward stroke, the back stroke, the draw and the pry are all the main building blocks which canoeists should master first. Essentially, these strokes can allow you to manouever your canoe in any direction.

Once the cornerstones are built, all other strokes are combinations of the above and “that’s when it gets really interesting,” quotes Mason.

Becky’s courses run from May to September at Meech Lake in Gatineau Park, Quebec.

For more information: www.redcanoes.ca

Photos courtesy of: www.redcanoes.ca