Let's make this even more complicated: There are probably a thousand variations in what can happen during a forward kayak stroke. When I was a sprint racer, I got a lot of criticism about my stroke because I took long, deep strokes with a low punch. [Actually, the criticism carried over into my slalom career, too.] I put the blade into the water somewhat carefully, then powered hard, then hooked out just a little at the end of the stroke. The end of the stroke was always too far to the stern for the critics. I also have a rather slow turnover rate. Most of those critics never beat me in a race, by the way. The coaches, especially the international ones, who watched me almost all said that the stroke was fine because it suited me and I went fast. In recent years the development of the wing paddle has demonstrated, I believe, that a little outward hook at the hip at the end of the stroke can actually propel the boat. The point is, my weird body [long arms, short legs, no brain] makes my weird stroke work very well. By the time one takes into account the all possible variables in musculature, limb length, body strength, angles at which a paddle can be placed in the water, angles at which a stroke can be made, distance from the boat the stroke can be placed, height variables of the top arm, length of paddle, area of blades, weight of blades, pollen count and relative humidity, no one will ever reduce this stroke thing to a formula. That's another reason why we need each other to assist, teach, coach and even criticize. Rely on the group, forget the formulae. Bless us all. Jim Tibensky _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com *************************************************************************** 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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