At question is torso motion in the forward sweep. Traditionally, recreational paddlers have been taught to keep their paddle shaft parallel to their shoulders throughout the sweep. This helps a beginning paddler watch to ensure the blade path remains correct rather than scooping water or abbreviating the last few inches of the sweep. Additionally, the paddler's arms stay in front of the torso, in the strongest position. Slalom racers, however, use a different torso action in sweep strokes.
Racers point their head and chest in the direction of their turn from start to finish.
This continual wind-up forces their legs and boat towards their destination, even though this forces the trailing shoulder into a weaker position. The ending position differs from the recreational paddlers' sweep, and requires shoulder strength and blade dexterity. Anticipation is a factor in determining technique. Racers, with their carefully calculated paths, usually use the first part of the sweep to initiate turns or make subtle corrections. Beginning recreational paddlers, on the other hand, are more often reactive, and need the last part of a sweep to make a course correction.