Re: [Paddlewise] stroke poll...aw, c'mon

Hey again Jim:

You are correct about pushing and straightening the leg which is on the
same side as your stroke -- it is what gets your torso rotating, and that
is where the power comes from.

Don't push with the opposite leg.  This will prevent body rotation and
consequently will limit you to only using your arms rather than all the big
thorax muscles.

(For some rolls, such as the screw roll, pushing with the opposite leg can
help initiate the hip snap, but this has nothing to do with the forward
stroke.)

Yes, fishtailing, boat rotation and bobbing should be avoided as much as
possible.  Pushing with the opposite leg is not the way to do it.  A first
step to avoiding fishtailing is to recover (take the paddle out of the
water) as the paddle approaches your hips.  Aside from wasting energy, a
late recovery really messes up boat balance.  (Re. my last post, in
addition to thinking unwind, unwind, unwind, also think out, out, out.)

A solid high forward stroke requires the smooth application of explosive
force, so don't expect it to go to well at first.  It is common for sprint
paddlers to torque themselves right out of their boats during power starts
in their first couple of seasons.  Give it time.

Cheers,
Richard Culpeper
www.geocities.com/~culpeper

----------
> From: Jim Champoux <jim_at_sigall.com>
> To: Paddle~Wise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>; Dave Kruger
<dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] stroke poll...aw, c'mon
> Date: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 12:19 PM
> 
> Dave,
> Thanks for responding, and your questions. I can explain my purpose for
> limiting my questions. Within the past couple of weeks, I have discovered
a
> very comfortable stroke, during which my body seems to "flow" with the
> paddling motion. It has really improved my enjoyment of paddling and I
> liken it to being "in the zone" paddling doesnt feel like work any more
and
> I do not get sore ( Im not a kid anymore).
> 
> The conflict that I have is that I push with the same leg as the power
> stroke.
> 
> I have heard, and it makes sense, that pushing your opposite leg (as you
> do) counterracts the paddle, this happens due to the boat leaning
opposite
> from the paddle cancelling out the effects. Like carving a turn but
> paddling on the wrong side. Keep in mind when I say lean I mean just
enough
> to change the geometry of the keel in the water, not a full on sloppy
back
> and forth slosh,
> 
> I have tried to decide what is meant by others when they say "push with
the
> opposite leg" does it mean jam the knee up? I can do this by "pushing"
with
> my power side knee, dropping it down.leaving the opposite knee up.
> 
> Which is why I phrased my questions in the specific, simplistic manner
that
> I did. I am a little confused.Not confused enough to change my stroke for
a
> less comfortable one but confused enough to see how the list handles
their
> strokes.
> 
> Thanks
> Jim
> 
> 
> Dave Kruger wrote:
> 
> > the mechanics of a paddle stroke style are so complex, I
> >wonder how well this medium conveys the style.
> >
> >Nonetheless, other considerations which affect paddling efficiency:
> >
> >1. Where is your catch -- how far forward of your knee?  -- how far out
from
> >the hull?  -- what is the width of your hull at the catch point?
> >
> >2. Where do you pull the paddle out of the water -- how far back from
your
> >hips?
> >
> >3. How much torso rotation do you incorporate into your stroke?
> >
> >4. Others?
> >
> >--
> >Dave Kruger
> >Astoria, OR
> 
> 
> 
>
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