Re: [Paddlewise] Legs Are Everything was "Long-short; euro-GP..."

From: WhiteRabbit <whiterabbit_0117_at_charter.net>
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 00:23:03 -0500
Taking the devils advocate.  All the legs do is anchor the lower body.

If your butt doesn't move  relative to the foot pegs, then  all the legs are
doing is anchoring the body so the power developed by the large torso
muscles can be transferred into the paddle.  You can drive your legs into
the foot pegs all day and the boat won't move until you put the paddle into
the water.   You can also drive your legs for all you are worth and if you
are arm paddling still not accomplish much.

It is a wide wide world, but I have never seen or heard of a paddler
actually using their leg power to rotate their hips in the seat.  Most keep
their butt relatively still in the seat and rotate at the base  and lower
part of the spine.

It is a useful visualization, and for many causes them to assume a better
posture, and do a better stroke, but it isn't where the power is coming
from.



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When logic and proportion Have fallen softly dead,
Remember what the dormouse said:
"Feed your head. Feed your head. Feed your head"
-WhiteRabbit
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Received on Mon Sep 06 2004 - 22:23:39 PDT

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