Re: [Paddlewise] an apology to Jim et. al. -

Hi Matt:

Go to Fred Mechini's page at http://pluto.njcc.com/~fmec/ for some photos of
Greg Barton in action (no skirt -- legs visible) and for lots mpeg videos of
olympic level paddlers in training.

The forward stroke used in sprint racing has you drive/straighten the leg on the
side you are stroking on.  Straightening this leg pushes one of your butt cheeks
back, which in turn helps you rotate your torso.  Torso rotation gives you much
of the power for your stroke.

Cheers,
Richard Culpeper
OCSRA Sprint Racing Instructor


Matt Broze wrote:

>
>  I have always pushed with foot on the side of the stroke.( Disclosure: I
> never took any lessons when I started kayaking.) It seemed so natural that
> when first read some literature (ACA I believe) recently that said to do the
> opposite I thought it was a typo. Later I read the keeping your boat
> straighter explanation and it seemed to make a certain sense. When I tried
> it it felt awkward. But, to somebody with 25 years of doing the opposite how
> could it be otherwise, maybe it wouldn't be awkward for a beginner. Then I
> thought, "maybe thats why I can't keep up with Greg Barton". At least why he
> goes by me like I'm standing still. I haven't watched Olympic paddlers close
> enough since reading this to know what they really do other than having
> their knees way more vertical than I do. Strange I should pay so little
> attention to the feet when I had read many things regarding racing strokes
> both before and after the wing revolution. I guess I just took my way as a
> given. I looked at Andree's pictures of Olympic paddlers but couldn't tell
> which knee was up under the spraydeck. I use my legs alot when paddling,
> especially when paddling hard. The lack of solid footpedals with most rudder
> systems is very annoying and when I remove one foot from a solid pedal I go
> in circles. My question is WHAT DO OLYMPIC PADDLERS ACTUALLY DO?
> Sub-question: If they do it the same way I do it how did the ACA/BCUer's get
> it so wrong?
>
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