Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling gears?

From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_gsp.org>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 15:53:25 -0500
On Wed, Apr 01, 1998 at 07:45:42AM -0500, John Winters wrote:
> Some one mentioned that sprint kayaks were faster than sprint  canoes and
> this is true over the full course length but canoes are faster in the first
> 100 metres. 

I think it was me, but then again I'm having a crazy week, so who knows?

This would make sense; the kneeling position allows one to exert
considerable power, which in turn should lead to faster acceleration
at the start...which is why C-boats would behave as you observe.  I'd
imagine that once the acceleration is over and the boats are in cruise,
the K-boat stroke rate begins to tell.

One thing that I can tell you is that in whitewater slalom, C-1's can
make certain moves (notably pivot turns through upstream gates in sharp
eddies) faster than K-1's but they tend to be slower on ferries.  Roughly
speaking, C-1 times end up about 10-15% off K-1 times for equivalently
skilled paddlers on most courses.

---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
rsk_at_gsp.org
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Received on Wed Apr 01 1998 - 13:20:34 PST

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