It drives me crazy when someone suggests that pushing the hips forward during the stroke recovery pushes the boat forward. It's just simple physics that any forward movement in a boat cause the boat to go backwardz not forward (or decelarates vs accelarating), and the flip side is that backward body movement causes the boat to go forward or accelerate - hence the the body motion during the final stroke of the race. Comments? 

Canoe technique varies a great deal amongst some of the best paddlers, but there is one thing that is very consistent, it's a rhythm sport. To create a perpetual motion, often coaches encourage powering the boat forward at the end of the stroke. It is not as much a counter productive forces against one another, as much as it is an attempt to limit any wasted motion or drag.