RE: [Paddlewise] Testing

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net] On Behalf Of Michael Daly
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Testing

Clearly, any testing method for this stuff has to be designed to remove the
human element or at least reduce the influence of human subjectivity or
inconsistency.

Mike
-----Original Message-----


Good science doesn't necessarily require the removal of the human element,
especially where it is an important component of the variable your trying to
test. Ignoring the diversity of paddling styles strikes me as odd ... for me
the motion of the paddle is complex, its also very different with Rasmunsen
style racing wing blades, greenland sticks, single bladed canoe paddles, or
flat 'euro' blades. Paddles don't paddle themselves, and the paddle is not
just for thrust but also for turning and support and feedback about what the
whole boat-paddler-paddle system is doing. I can't imagine that it would be
easy to replicate the different motions of just one paddler with different
blades even approximately by a robot in a tank. 
Even if you manage to build a half decent robot which can move a paddle in
sort of the same way a paddler does, applying power sort of when a paddler
does ... how would you test the rather wild assumption that the robotic
paddle tank data had any validity when extrapolated to human paddling?
Eventually you would have to design an experiment to test the tank data (or
a new paddle design derived using it) against real paddler performance for
it to have any rigour anyway. DOH! 

Perhaps for testing paddles an experimental design making appropriate use of
replicated performance with samples of paddlers (a methodology common to
many rigorous scientific disciplines) might actually be more appropriate
than robotic tank testing? But wait, such an experiment exists! ... its
called 'competitive sport', and the results are pretty clear .. If you want
to go fast in a kayak (sprint, marathon, ww racing) use (feathered) wing
paddles, if you want to do a lot of turning and stroke work (slalom, polo)
use (feathered) flat 'euro' paddles. No Greenland paddles are seen in
competitive sport outside greenland ... and there is a reason for that. I'd
wager if wing blades were permitted in the greenlandic races, they would
absolutely toast the sticks. If you train with wing paddles and also use
greenland paddles this is immediately and blindingly obvious.

The paradox is that even though my own experience indicates and the
experience of competitive canoe sport proves as a whole which paddles are
most efficient and fastest I still prefer greenland paddles mostly, because
I just like the feel of them. Test that in a tank or evaluate it in a kayak?

Cheers

Colin
www.kayakscotland.com
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