[Paddlewise] strokes per minute

Kirk Olsen was talking about stroke rates for kayakers and  estimated one 
guy was doing between 100 and 110 per minute.
I've always wondered; when you're talking about strokes per minute for a 
kayaker, do you count a left side and a right side stroke as one stroke or 
two strokes? I need to know so I can see how I compare. Even if you count 
it as two strokes, I'm amazed at how fast a lot of kayakers paddle, judging 
from what I've read here and on paddling.net.
Of course, a lot of the kayakers I see around where I paddle (Michigan's 
U.P.) seem like they fall asleep for awhile between strokes :^)


Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:53:47 -0400
From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com>
Subject: [Paddlewise] stroke rates
About a week ago someone asked about what sort of stroke rate racers use.
This past weekend I did a 20+ mile open water race
(http://www.blackburnchallenge.com) using a single outrigger canoe
(http://www.outriggerconnection.com/One_man/Stingray/stingray.html).
About 7 miles into the race I was passed by the lead pack of surf skiis and
racing kayaks (start times for the classes are staggered). I normally
paddle a canoe
at about 65 strokes a minute. Greg Barton, the eventual winner, was doing
slightly less than twice as many strokes as I was - so my estimate is his
stroke rate was
between 100 and 110. He did the race in the Epic 18' touring kayak,
finishing in 2:41, six minutes ahead of the surf skiis and about an hour
before me ;-)
kirk
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 15:53:47 -0400
From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com>
Subject: [Paddlewise] stroke rates
About a week ago someone asked about what sort of stroke rate racers use.
This past weekend I did a 20+ mile open water race
(http://www.blackburnchallenge.com) using a single outrigger canoe
(http://www.outriggerconnection.com/One_man/Stingray/stingray.html).
About 7 miles into the race I was passed by the lead pack of surf skiis and
racing kayaks (start times for the classes are staggered). I normally
paddle a canoe
at about 65 strokes a minute. Greg Barton, the eventual winner, was doing
slightly less than twice as many strokes as I was - so my estimate is his
stroke rate was
between 100 and 110. He did the race in the Epic 18' touring kayak,
finishing in 2:41, six minutes ahead of the surf skiis and about an hour
before me ;-)
kirk
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