Techniques
SITTING IS THE NEW KNEELING. PHOTO: MARLIN BAYES
PLEASE BE SEATED GET MORE OUT OF YOUR STROKES BY SITTING INSTEAD OF KNEELING
Tradition always dictated that kneeling demonstrated proper technique—sitting was sloppy. Innovation, on the other hand, has resulted in technique that has canoeists actually paddling stron- ger while seated. It’s not quite as easy as just changing positions, though. You’ll need to modify your paddling style to match your seated stance for added power, efficiency and comfort. Proponents of kneeling usually argue that it’s more stable than
sitting. This isn’t always true. Lower the seat and there’s no need to kneel. Properly mounted tractor seats are installed with this in mind. Tractor seats also force paddlers to keep their center of grav- ity over the center of buoyancy of the boat, eliminating balance issues related to sliding to one side on a bench seat. Kneelers who claim they get more power likely do so by leaning
forward and planting their paddles further ahead—reach afforded by their kneeling position. However, when paddling most canoes, this is less efficient since it causes the bow of the canoe to porpoise in the water. The shorter, faster stroke cadence of the seated paddler lends
itself to bent shaft paddles. Because tractor seats are lower than bench seats, a shorter paddle is required. Bent-shaft paddles also demand less reach because of the angle the blades enter the water. Those quick to criticize bent-shaft paddles for their clumsiness
when it comes to steering strokes will find that switching sides is actually easier seated than while kneeling because of the stability fac- tors mentioned above. Replace a pry, which is ineffective with bent- shaft paddles, by changing sides (hut!) and doing a draw—generally more ideal than a pry anyways because it’s more powerful. Pries can
36 PADDLING THIS MONTH || March 2013
also destabilize the canoe, which can be an issue with the lower free- board boats commonly designed for this style of paddling. The shortened overall height of this more modern style of boat
not only reduces wind sheer, it also allows seated paddlers to com- fortably reach over the sides as well as brace thighs and knees be- neath the gunwales. Bow paddlers should rest their thighs against the sides of the
canoe and feet against the air chamber in front of them. Boats with tractor seats often have an optional footbrace for stern paddlers. Engaging your lower body creates the feeling of pulling the boat forward across the water rather than pushing the water backwards, behind the canoe, as is the case with straight-shaft paddling com- mon to the traditional kneeling style. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits to paddling from a seated
position is the added comfort. No more sore knees, no more pins and needles. Marathon canoeists paddle almost exclusively seated with their lower bodies braced to maintain comfort over long dis- tances while still generating maximum power. Kneeling remains the best choice for classic soloists and pad-
ding most technical whitewater, but if you don’t want to kneel, learn to paddle properly when seated. Just like kneeling paddlers, in order to maintain an efficient stroke, seated paddlers must sit up straight and generate power by rotating the torso rather than relying entirely on arms. The key here is not to slouch in your seat. —Michael Mechan This Technique article first appeared in the Spring 2013 issue of Ca- noeroots. Read more technique articles by visiting Rapid Media online.
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74