Scott wrote:- > When performing a brace into a wave you >want the paddle to extend straight into the >face of the wave with the shaft of the paddle >more or less parallel to the horizon. Doug wrote: - >what I always avoid with the arm in an extended >position -- which is rare -- and allowing it to >rotate back above the head, as _that_ is the most >likely time for a dislocation. Jochen wrote: - >It takes several years (4-5) until my problems >came down with this "small" dislocations, G'Day Scott, Doug, Jochen and Paddlewise, That helped a lot. I definitely don't want to lose several years of kayaking! So will stick to tucking my elbows close to the body. It raises another question. One of the things I sometimes get wrong is maintaining an edge, sometimes its more of a lean than an edge, too long. So the wave dissipates and I fall in towards the wave. If I understand correctly, with elbows locked to the body the angle of the paddle is set by edging only, so the angle of the wave sets the degree of edging needed. If you then did no more than concentrate on keeping the boat and paddle horizontal by edging would this overcome the tendency to overcompensate and fall into the wave? All the best and thanks, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bracing while broached on a wave is a highly dynamic process. The wave is constantly changing with respect to force and shape, and the paddler needs to adjust the edge and blade handling accordingly. It's one thing to know this intellectually, but of course it takes lots of waves before the body learns its lessons.... Although the notion of protecting the shoulders by keeping elbows close to the body is valid, it would be conterproductive to take it to the extreme of "locking" elbows in position. This would limit your ability to adapt to the changing wave. Further, any effort to stiffen (lock) one part of the body would almost certainly tend to generalize -- and so your edging would suffer as well. The remedy would then be swift and sure: nothing like a good surf tumble to loosen those muscles and joints! Bob V >> One of the things I sometimes get wrong is maintaining an > edge, sometimes its more of a lean than an edge, too long. So the wave > dissipates and I fall in towards the wave. > If I understand correctly, with elbows locked to the body the angle of the > paddle is set by edging only, so the angle of the wave sets the degree of > edging needed. If you then did no more than concentrate on keeping the boat > and paddle horizontal by edging would this overcome the tendency to > overcompensate and fall into the wave? > *************************************************************************** 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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