Re: [Paddlewise] efficient stroke

Well, Chris Mitchell once said to never take advice on the forward stroke 
from the kayaker who's behind you. Further to that, I'm hesitant to take 
advice from anyone who dogmatically tries to tell you how to do the forward 
stroke efficiently and exactly how it should look - even if they are in 
front of me and have great glide. Actually, Chris is pretty particular in 
what he teaches with the forward stoke I've heard. I guess you can agree 
with him or disagree or, as I often do with this type of situation is to 
consider aspects that seem logical and fit with my body style, muscle type, 
aerobic output (etc.) and boat and paddle type. At least with Mr. Mitchell, 
he's spent a few decades studying the movement of a paddle through the 
water.

It is also true that some of the fishform kayaks and some of the wider 
designs just don't allow a nice steep plant.

I don't know what it is that denotes an efficient stroke  -- visually 
referenced , but I do know what Craig might be getting at. Certain paddlers 
just have this particular way of planting the paddle, pulling at a 
consistent trajectory, then pulling out without lifting water while they set 
up perfectly for the next plant and pull. When you see it, you recognize it, 
and maybe want to emulate it - or feel that perhaps you need to go to a 
stroke improvement class.

Some of you guys out there are pretty smart and probably know a lot about 
fluid dynamics and such. I don't and can't pontificate - just agree that 
Craig has a good question about what is the sign of a good stroke. Not sure 
about that Brad guy though on fluid dynamics, unless he's talking about 
problems with urine dribble, but that's a different forum than Paddlewise. 
:-)

I have a low angle stroke that suits me just fine for open water. I can go 
higher angle if I want to sprint in nice water. If I wanted to sprint around 
Australia, I might well take some classes from something verging on 
pro-style Olympic training and nail that look (and hopefully the efficiency 
that is supposed to be gained); but really for me, I don't care if I look 
sloppy/splashy (splooshy?). I usually out paddle most friends or at least 
tire them out by the end of the paddle and can keep that up all day if the 
rotator cuffs aren't acting up. In difficult storm conditions, head close to 
deck (or often just a pronounced lean forward) - my stroke must look awful. 
The blade enters the the water near the bow further forward than normal with 
my 230, pulls hard with a big Lendal blade with no soft dihedral gentleness, 
then swings out a bit toward the back of the stroke, so far back that I may 
be lifting some water on exit. What I loose in a fast plant, short choppy, 
even plucky pull with recommended early pull-out, I gain in the momentum I 
create in conditions that often warrant it when moving forward is done under 
duress. For really hard-core extreme paddling, I'll commit to an odd, 
definite, purpose-driven shove of my whole kayak forward, pivoting my 
hips/pelvis to bodily force the kayak an extra measure of forwardness. I'll 
make a guttural grunt like a native drum beat releasing out of my inner eard 
drums, and zone out for hours doing this. If I'm caught for hours in a 
counter-productive current or worsening storm, I'll sometime stiffen up my 
torso and rock the kayak from side to side matching each alternating lean 
with the paddle plant and pull as I conserve energy playing with 
anaerobic/aerobic ratios. So. not exactly looking like Mr.Barton there Mr. 
Lloyd...

Scroll down to the Aug 24 post.

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2237&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=atlantis&start=25

Doug Lloyd

>
> It's easy to confuse paddling styles with paddle stroke. It's only 
> sensible
> that rotating the upper body helps. What I guess I was trying to get at 
> was;
> is there a sign of an efficient paddle stroke? And if there is, what is 
> it?
> I know it's not a lack of paddle drips on the spray deck. My wing paddle
> throws a *lot* of water but is the fastest thing I've ever paddled with. 
> If
> I try to stop throwing water off the back then it slows down... so I 
> stopped
> trying. It also makes a distinctive "plop" sound when I have the catch 
> just
> right. But this is paddle-specific. Is a quieter paddle stroke more
> efficient? One that doesn't throw water?
>
> Jim Tibensky's remarks about moving the paddle away from the boat at the 
> end
> of the stroke also seems (to me) to be faster. In fact I find myself
> levering down on the shaft of my standard euros some to get more speed. 
> Much
> like a modified wing stroke. But I try to keep my catch vertical.
>
> I'm in the throes of Tour de France fever right now so I might not be
> totally comprehensible for another 2-1/2 weeks. Yesterday's team trials 
> were
> so incredible that I had to breathe into a paper bag for 30 minutes
> afterwards. :P
>
> Chris Cunningham of Sea Kayaker Magazine has some questions about the size
> of a sea kayak and whether old notions are still relevant. Link is at:
>
> http://www.seakayakermag.com/2009/09e-newsletters/july/sizingup.htm
>
> It seems like good fodder for this group.
>
>
> Craig Jungers
> Moses Lake, WA
> www.nwkayaking.net
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