Dear fellow kayakers: I have a confession to make. I am usually the slowest person in our group. I have been paddling at least once a week, sometimes, twice, for over a year. I feel secure in all the sea conditions I have encountered, I can roll and I can high brace. I love the waves and enjoy surfing. But I am slow, and this usually results in our group getting very strung out on our long, group paddles. And I don't like being the last guy! I have had my forward stroke critiqued from every angle, and try to do everything I'm told. I lean forward, I rotate my torso to the point where the top hand crosses over to the other side, I use my legs. But I'm still slow. While some have said it is a matter of physical conditioning, and that I should do weight training (and perhaps I should), I have my doubts because there are paddlers who are not as strong as me, who still paddle faster. I also do not feel that I am tiring when I paddle. Why is my stroke so ineffective? I'd appreciate any advice from you instructors out there. I would also like to add the following: I am 42 years old; most of the kayakers are in their late 20s, early 30s. I have a short torso and long legs. This may be why I am not getting forward enough in my stroke. Nigel Dennis also said that I needed a higher seat and a shorter paddle. I paddle with a Lendal Nordkapp, modified crank, 218 cm. in length. Nigel advised that I get a 215. I paddle a NDK Romany Explorer. Had a great paddle this morning. The water is warmer than the outside air these days, so it is fun to get wet! Josh ============================================================================== Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 African Studies Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel E-mail:teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il www.dayan.org ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joshua Teitelbaum wrote: > I have a confession to make. I am usually the slowest person in our group. > I have had my forward stroke critiqued from every angle, and try to do > everything I'm told. [snip] > some have said it is a matter of physical conditioning, and > that I should do weight training (and perhaps I should), I have my doubts > because there are paddlers who are not as strong as me, who still paddle > faster. I also do not feel that I am tiring when I paddle. > Why is my stroke so ineffective? Not tiring when you paddle? That is probably the key piece of information. Are you breathing significantly faster during paddling than at rest? If not, then you have more effort to expend. You do not have to exert yourself so much that you are on the ragged edge, but unless your heart rate and breathing are elevated, then you could put out more effort. If you know someone who has a wireless heart rate monitor, slap it on during paddling and compare your heart rate (at paddle cruise) with your heart rate during vigorous uphill walking. "Put out more effort" may translate into any of several changes in your stroke. However, you should feel your muscles **work** during the power phase of each stroke. If you can not feel significant resistance, then try a slightly longer paddle or maybe a somewhat larger blade face. Beware, however, of over-stressing your wrist and shoulder. If you feel your muscles **are** working near their capacity during the power phase, then the problem is muscle tone. Yup, that means weight training or some other resistance training activity focusing on your upper body. Paddling once a week is not enough to maintain upper body fitness for me. Good luck solving the problem ... 'course, you could always just choose slower partners! <g> -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Joshua Teitelbaum" <teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il> > Why is my stroke so ineffective? I'd appreciate any advice from you > instructors out there. I would also like to add the following: I am 42 > years old; most of the kayakers are in their late 20s, early 30s. I have a > short torso and long legs. This may be why I am not getting forward enough > in my stroke. Nigel Dennis also said that I needed a higher seat and a > shorter paddle. I paddle with a Lendal Nordkapp, modified crank, 218 cm. > in length. Nigel advised that I get a 215. I paddle a NDK Romany Explorer. One thing I would suggest is trying a different paddle. The Nordkapp is a relatively big blade (by _my_ standards :-) and this could be forcing you into a low stroke rate that isn't optimal for you. See if you can borrow a smaller blade - even to something as petite as a Current Designs Sabella (http://www.cdkayak.com/paddles.htm#Sabella) and try a higher stroke rate. I can't say for sure that it'll help, but it's worth a try. Everyone has their own natural cadence and if you're off that it could slow you down a tad. I wouldn't expect a big change however. Keep the Nordkapp for when you want power. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I agree. A smallish blade, short, vertical shaft and high RPM's are definitely in style. Find a combo that works for your body and you're there. Steve Scherrer aldercreek.com Mike writes: > One thing I would suggest is trying a different paddle. The Nordkapp is a > relatively big blade (by _my_ standards :-) and this could be forcing you > into a low stroke rate that isn't optimal for you. See if you can borrow a > smaller blade - even to something as petite as a Current Designs > Sabella (http://www.cdkayak.com/paddles.htm#Sabella) and try a higher > stroke rate. > > I can't say for sure that it'll help, but it's worth a try. Everyone has their own > natural cadence and if you're off that it could slow you down a tad. I > wouldn't expect a big change however. > > Keep the Nordkapp for when you want power. > > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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