Re: [Paddlewise] Bad forward sweep

At 09:07 PM 1/7/02 -0500, Bob Volin wrote:
>Hi folks.  This is gonna be long -- I got carried away  ;->
>

Great post, Bob. I snipped most of it because I just wanted to add a 
comment on this one section.

>Jim T mentioned your legs and John talked about torso rotation.  When done
>effectively, they're part of the same action.  Most beginners, and many
>not-so-new paddlers, keep their upper bodies more or less aligned with their
>kayaks when attempting to sweep.  This results in an awkward finishing
>position and an ineffective sweep.  As John says, think about planting your
>paddle close to your feet and then using your BODY to sweep it around to the
>stern.  That means that at the end of a full sweep your torso will be turned
>to about 90 degrees relative to the boat, and your paddle shaft will be
>parallel to the boat, extended a few inches over the water.

There is a really good exercise that I picked up in Chris Duffs class and 
have used a couple of times in beginner classes I've helped teach.  I like 
it because it starts by introducing a body position on land as a warmup 
exercise and then uses it later during the class to demonstrate good torso 
rotation.

Before getting into the kayaks get together with a partner about the same 
size and stand back to back, about 6" a part (more if one has very wide 
shoulders). Plant your feet comfortably about shoulder width such that they 
are pointing directly away from your partner.  Now one person should grab a 
paddle and hold it parallel and horizontal in front of the body with 
"stiff" arms.  Both people should then rotate their bodies in the same 
direction so that the paddle can be passed from one to the other.  The 
should both be facing the same direction with their shoulders nearly 
touching. Both people then rotate in the other direction so that the paddle 
is passed back to the first person. Keep going for a minute or so in the 
same direction then change directions.
As an instructor it will be useful to have the paddlers stop for a second 
or two just as the paddle is being passed from one to the other and comment 
on the body position.

Next have everyone get into their boats and ask everyone to get comfortable 
and continue to stretch.  Have them rotate their torso with the paddle as 
if they were going to be passing a paddle to someone sitting behind them.

When it comes time to demonstrate a forward sweep have the paddlers stop 
and they think is the end of the stroke, lift their paddle out of the 
water, and hold it in that position.  Note how that position should be the 
same as the warmup exercise they did on land.

This also works with a regular forward stroke for emphasizing torso 
rotation if you pause at the end of the forward stroke and hold the paddle 
for a few seconds before taking the next stroke on the other side.


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