Continued from page 28— legs and feet provide the foundation necessary for sitting up comfortably. Once that founda- tion is established you can work on improving the mechanics of your forward stroke.
[2] Begin at the end Tink about setting up the forward stroke by lifting the paddle blade out of the water, instead of thinking of this as the end of the stroke. Like a circle, there is actually no begin- ning or end in the cycle of repeated forward strokes. Te moments before the power phase are critical. Te blade must be positioned to correctly enter the water and the body must be in a physical posture that allows it to deliver the necessary power.
[3] Rotate in the set-up Torso rotation is often cited as the hallmark of an efficient forward stroke, but it’s difficult to learn to unwind the torso during the power phase of the stroke. It’s easier to learn consis- tent torso rotation by thinking about winding up your torso during the set-up. To do this, lift your blade out of the water at the end of your stroke, then bring the forward blade far forward by twisting the shoulders and reach- ing ahead with the shoulder, elbow and hand on the paddling side. Now you are well rotated and will naturally unwind and use torso rota- tion during the power phase of your stroke.
[4] Lift your elbows Whether you use a high- or low-angled stroke style, it is important to keep the elbow almost level with the wrist as if punching a bag. It is very common for paddlers to raise the aft blade out of the water by lifting the hand while leav- ing the elbow low, but this posture with a low elbow and high hand is very weak and cannot produce any effective power. Instead, think about lifting the paddle blade out of the wa- ter by raising the elbow and hand simultane- ously—lift your wing. With this combination of a well-rotated shoulder girdle, the leading shoulder positioned well forward, and the aft forearm approximately level, your torso can ro- tate to generate power and your arms are ready to efficiently deliver power to the paddle.
[5] Pick up the pace Now think about keeping up your speed. While the paddle blades are out of the water, the kayak slows down. It’s easier to keep the kayak moving forward at a consistent speed than it is to re- peatedly slow down and regain lost speed with each stroke. It is most efficient to have the blade in the water as often as possible and easier on your body to make many gentle repetitions than a smaller number of very heavy strokes. Make your strokes quick, short, and frequent; think of the smaller strides you take when running up a hill. A cadence of about 25 stokes per minute on one side is comfortable and effective.
DOUG ALDERSON is a senior instructor trainer for Paddle Canada and the author of several books about kayaking, most recently Sea Kayak Strokes: A Guide to Efficient Paddling Skills.
30 ADVENTURE KAYAK | SUMMER 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60