I had the opportunity to talk with a Czech competitive kayaker who was training locally for the Nike Master's Games. The guy was on the Czech national team earier in life, and also one of it's coaches with advanced degrees in exercise physiology. The two tips regarding form that he gave me were to put my hands closer together on my grip (provides longer forward reach) and to paddle more parallel to the keel line. I'll note here too that his $500 "hydro-foil" paddle was pretty short. Once I got over the initial awkward feeling, I realized that I'm getting a longer, more efficient stroke with this form, but it also consumes more energy and requires more attention. I've additionally been taught that in heavy seas a lower paddle position and strokes reaching out from the hull provide bracing and faster correction of the boat's direction from second to second. Typically, I change paddling styles to suit the water and to fit my physical needs. Speedy paddling seems to require one form. Long-distance paddling accomodates a lot of varied forms according to the water conditions and physical state of the paddler. Right now I'm discovering that paddle selection for specific water conditions provides a lot of options too. As regards paddling in a straight line, I tend to spend about 10% of each stroke toward steering the boat. Sometimes this effort comprises course correction. Sometimes it's more about paddling in a straight line so that I don't need to correct for direction. I suppose like any performance skill, judgement and precision come with practice. Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com *************************************************************************** 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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