RE: [Paddlewise] Unfettered Paddles/Tendonitis/timepiece aside

Steve,

You bring up many excellent points.  But I have a question for you and the
group at large.

As some of you know, I aspire to become an ACA certified instructor some
day.  Hence, I have acquired the ACA manuals for both coastal and white
water instruction.  In these manuals, they talk all about the "push-pull"
methods. Furthermore, if you look at 99% of the kayak instruction books on
the market, they also talk about the old "push-pull" methods --- even the
ones that bring up the role of torso rotation still talk about push-pull
with the arms.

Yet if you watch any decent racer or accomplished touring-paddlers, they
have very little push-pull motion.  Other than getting a little extra omph
at the start of the stroke, the power stroke used by any racer is all torso.


So my question is, does the ACA recognize the torso oriented stroke as the
right stroke to teach?  Am I going to get hammered when I take the IDW/ICE
and refuse to do the stupid, inefficient arm stroke?  I mean I can do it and
mimic what the books tell you to do, but its the WRONG way to paddle a
kayak.   Is this a case of the ACA mauals are behind ACA practice, or is the
ACA really stuck in the dark ages of paddling?

--Tim

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	AlderCreek [SMTP:acks_at_teleport.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, May 04, 1999 10:58 AM
> To:	Zpaddlewise list
> Subject:	RE: [Paddlewise] Unfettered Paddles/Tendonitis/timepiece
> aside
> 
> 
> Bob wrote on May 4th:
> >>Make sure you are not gripping your paddle too tight. I totally relax
> the
> "pushing hand" and often change the position of my thumb.<<<
> 
> A misconception many have concerning correct paddle technique is that the
> upper hand is a *pushing hand*.  If you *do* push with the upper hand it
> moves the pivot point of the paddle to the center of the shaft.  The
> result,
> with the pivot point at the center, is a much smaller blade arc. To
> increase
> the size of the arc, one must keep the pivot point high, say about your
> upper <or pivot> hand.  This is done by rotating the torso and keeping the
> top hand and arm position rather static.  Imagine watching your wrist
> watch
> while you take the stroke.  Pushing and pulling will result in lots of arm
> action, little torso action.  Kinda like the dog paddle in swimming.
> 
> We stopped teaching the *push/pull* technique about 5 years ago. =O
> 
> So........4 *keys* to proper technique and paddle efficiency are:
> 
> 1. Proper Posture <paddlers box, sitting upright, balanced>
> 2. Blade Angle <controlled with the working or water hand, regardless of
> feather!>
> 3. Shaft Angle <vertical drives the boat ahead, horizontal turns the boat
> *and* offers   support> and.........
> 4, Pivot Point <upper hand pivot keeps the paddle arc large>
> 
> Steve Scherrer < ACA Instructor Trainer>
> Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe
> 250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr
> Portland, Oregon      97217
> 
> Phone: 503.285.0464
> Fax:      503.285.0106
> Web:     http://www.aldercreek.com
> Email:   aldercreek_at_aldercreek.com
> Email:   acks_at_teleport.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/
> **************************************************************************
> *
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************