This has been an enlightening discussion thread for me. I think, just based on experience, I have zero knowledge of physics, that a lot of what is being said misses the point that a good kayak stroke is a highly individual thing. I've said before that I've always been told that I have an unusual stroke - very deep, long (I take the paddle out well behind my hip), and my stroke rate is quite low. These characteristics are true whether I use a European paddle or an Inuit one. Part of my stroke, I think, comes from my combination of light weight, long arms and short legs. As well as many miles of practice. It is extremely rare for me to paddle the same stroke rate as another paddler and not pass them. It's just how my stroke works. A kayak paddle, unlike an oar, is not fixed to anything but the paddler's hands. So there cannot be a perfect angle of shaft to water, for instance, because paddlers are different heights. I think it's the same with crossing over the centerline, height of punch, relative strength or not of push as opposed to pull on the blade, and on and on. Any paddle can be used with a high stroke rate - just take shorter and shallower strokes. A shorter paddle is easier to turn over quickly, to change strokes quickly and to do rudder strokes with. Which is why slalom paddles are shorter than sprint paddles. But sea kayakers don't need to Duffek or rudder most of the time, surfing aside, so sea kayakers use long paddles. For a while I got ragged for my torso rotation and for "dragging" the paddle behind me with my Inuit paddle. Apparently folks in the midwest were mostly taught that the Inuit stroke is about two feet long and only the arms are used for propulsion. Now my ugly stroke is in fashion. All this to say that what works for me may not work for you and what I think my stroke does might not be proved by scientific analysis. The human being operating the paddle has so many variables available to his or her in terms of movements that I think the paddle itself is not the major determinant of the paddling style. Body type, muscle strength, heart rate, fast vs. slow twitch muscle makeup, even personality - they all affect the stroke. A lot. In my opinion. Jim Tibensky _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Sep 18 2002 - 06:51:10 PDT
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