Re: [Paddlewise] A new way to teach the forward stroke?

Craig Jungers wrote:

> Back in my youth I taught tennis and noticed that as you get experience
> in an activity and your muscles get trained you put forth much less
> energy than someone new to that sport. Even in my 40s I could easily
> wear out new players who were young and fit. Newbies would hit too hard,
> run too fast, stop too soon, and generally squander their energy.

I think that in MOST activities, people learn by themselves to work as 
efficiently as possible. Not just tennis, but also walking, typing and 
scratching your head. So far, I agree with you, but...

 > I suspect it works the same with kayak newbies.

It seems that paddling is counter-intuitive. Left on their own, newbies 
will develop a very shallow, long stroke, with the paddle on their 
bellies. In time, their muscles will get trained to do it longer and 
more powerful, but it seems that we need instruction to get it right, 
contrary to most activities. I myself had been paddling for 20 years 
before getting instruction and adapting a decent stroke - if indeed I have.
(Which is not to say that other sports don't need instruction; just that 
running and efficiently turning come natural to most.)

> Although I tend to
> paddle fast in general (at least according to Pam) I think that you're
> right. The minimum speed is about 2.5 kts I think. :P

I think mine is at most 2 kts - but then again: I'm a sissy and I paddle 
a bathtub. My most comfortable speed is around 3 kts.
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