i'm adjusting to sea-kayaking and could use some advice on seating options. for quite sometime i had the seat to foot-brace distance just long enough for my legs to extend fully.... but sometimes i would slide down into the kayak a bit and then have to remember to sit up again. so, i reduced the distance so that my butt was firmly attached to the back of the seat and my legs were slighty bent against the foot-brace. wow! what a mistake! plant paddle, rotate torso and *try* to use leg to propell boat forward.... no room for leg extention ment isometric workout in which i almost ripped the footbraces out of the hull and nearly broke my ankles. tomorrow it's back to the original seat to foot-brace distance.... but i wonder: if i keep my foot in place against the foot-brace during a stroke that uses torso and leg power, then it seems like something needs to move... is it what i think? and if it is, does that indicate that a slippery seat and clothing would be the more desirable than sticky seat/clothing? seems like most seats try to increase friction rather than reduce friction.... what gives? bye bye bliven *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 09:26 PM 7/17/98 -0400, Bliven wrote: >I'm adjusting to sea-kayaking and could use some advice on seating options. > >for quite sometime I had the seat to foot-brace distance just long enough >for my legs to extend fully.... but sometimes I would slide down into the >kayak a bit and then have to remember to sit up again. (snips--and revised to upper-case first person singular. . .) Hutchinson and Washburne provide advice about foot peg position. Mostly it's a matter of a "neutral" foot position, not reaching with the toes, not extending the heels past the ball of the foot. I can extend my legs out and "lock" my knees with the feet on the pegs, but the heel is past the ball of the foot in this position. For paddling my feet are in a neutral position on the pegs (too short and feet/legs start cramping and falling asleep). The knees are above the hips. The provides the correct position for good sacro/lumbar posture. Any yak I've ever paddled has had ample thigh braces, and my knees come upward to brace the thighs against the pads under the upper deck. This position keeps my butt in the seat. My seat fits firmly against both cheeks with the rear butt firmly positioned against the rear of the seat. I've a history of sacro/lumbar problems (small back right above the pelvis). Keeping the knees above the hips eliminates this problem. I've also shortened my seat back to provide ample support in the lumbar region. The seat back is probably about 2 inches forward of the rear of the seat. This position keeps me sitting upright. No slouching! With good bracing of feet and thighs, I'm able to prevent any sliding or movement of the lower body when paddling. An upright posture allows me to lean slightly forward and reach forward with the paddle. A good purchase with the paddle and upper body rotation provides an efficent stroke that moves the boat forward rather than sliding me forward in the cockpit. In theory, this well supported position makes it easier to "hip flick" and right the kayak from an Eskimo Roll. Seems probable in theory, I've yet to practice the rolls. A stable position *does* provide more control in turning, bracing, and paddling. My sea yak cockpit fits like a comfortable old jogging shoe. White water boats have cockpits tailored to the paddler that fit like one-size-too-small rubber gloves. As noted elsewhere in this group. If the feet and legs go to sleep on you, there's a good chance that the foot pegs are too short. ______________________________ George Bergeron, Secretary '99 Oswego Heritage Council http://www.europa.com/~heritage/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Geo. Bergeron wrote: > I've a history of sacro/lumbar problems (small back right above the >pelvis). Keeping the knees above the hips eliminates this problem. I've >also shortened my seat back to provide ample support in the lumbar region. >The seat back is probably about 2 inches forward of the rear of the seat. George... I remember you also writing about "tennis elbow." I have developed a bit of tennis elbow also... first noticed when carrying a heavy suitcase (98 lbs). I get a bit of a "bite" from the elbow occasionally and it being a "sharp" pain, I am worried about aggrevating it to the point where it interferes with my ability to paddle. If you care to share your experiences with this dilemma, I would sure like to hear what you have to say about it. ... It may have been the suitcase, or the paddling style... From what I remember about your comments, "tennis elbow" or Paddle elbow doesn't seem to quickly heal itself. Thanks Robert *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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