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Back in the 60's, sports cars were just coming to maturity. There was an accepted style of roadrace driving that everyone accepted as "correct". The early big block Corvettes were getting beaten by weenie British cars. Finally one day a guy named John Greenwood showed up with a completely altered driving style called "pitch and toss". It was NOTHING like the accepted "correct" way. The traditionalists were agast BUT guess who started blowing away the competition? Question..... Is there really a "correct" way? Do we really have to stick with the way that everyone accepts as the "only" right way? Is there no room for innovation? I don't follow some of the "correct" things........ TM *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> Question..... Is there really a "correct" way? Do we really have to stick > with the way that everyone accepts as the "only" right way? Is there no room > for innovation? I don't follow some of the "correct" things........ Sure, there's lots of room for change. The duffek stroke was a major innovation in its time, and changed everything about slalom as a consequence. The recent experiments in C-2 technique (e.g. the Czech boats where the bow paddler rarely paddles offside) may have a similar impact for tandem boats. But until such innovations come along and *prove* themselves to be superior, there are tried-and-true methods which are demonstrably better than the alternatives. Those are referred to as "correct" because, as far as we know at the moment, they *are* correct. Doing the forward stroke by moving the boat past a stationary paddle is one of them; in fact, that's why you'll find world-class whitewater paddlers doing flatwater workouts, in an effort to get as close as possible to that ideal stroke. ---Rsk Rich Kulawiec rsk_at_gsp.org *************************************************************************** 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 1:04 PM -0400 7/22/98, WILAX_at_aol.com wrote: >Back in the 60's, sports cars were just coming to maturity. There was an >accepted style of roadrace driving that everyone accepted as "correct". The >early big block Corvettes were getting beaten by weenie British cars. Finally >one day a guy named John Greenwood showed up with a completely altered driving >style called "pitch and toss". It was NOTHING like the accepted "correct" >way. The traditionalists were agast BUT guess who started blowing away the >competition? >Question..... Is there really a "correct" way? Do we really have to stick >with the way that everyone accepts as the "only" right way? Is there no room >for innovation? >I don't follow some of the "correct" things........ > >TM Everyone is built differently. While there is probably one "most efficient" way there are lots of examples of great athletes with "bad" form. What is successful for any given individual may not match the "ideal". This does not mean they can not improve, but it is possible that their way works better that the "correct" way would given the way they are built. I was talking to a guy yesterday who consitantly wins races. He has been told he has NO stroke. Maybe he would win more races with "better" form, but for now he is doing fine. Nick Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks c/o Newfound Woodworks, 67 Danforth Brook Rd, Bristol, NH 03222 (603) 744-6872 Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<< *************************************************************************** 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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