Paddle Technique

Hey Andy and Jason (and anybody else who teaches this stuff),

 I was flipping channels and stumbled on the Canoe World Championships from Halifax. Watching the kayak events I wondered what I could take from their "perfect" form.
 
Do we mere mortals (and lower still, we in SOT tupperware) share anything in our techniques other than the fact that we are both in liquid water?

 I noticed that they appeared to really reach with the lead hand and used what appeared to be a fairly high angle stroke. Is that technique something I/we want to emulate or is their form reserved for wing paddles and carbon fibre boats that are 10" wide?

I noticed that they appeared to really reach with the lead hand and used what appeared to be a fairly high angle stroke. Is that technique something I/we want to emulate or is their form reserved for wing paddles and carbon fibre boats that are 10" wide?

When I want to sprint or turn it up a notch, you'll see me reaching with my lead hand ... it gives you a longer stroke.

-Allen

I've been pulling my mirage drive and using the big 'ole scupper plug on my Adventure on a few of my recent trips just to get more practice paddling, and I've made a few observations that I'd like to share. I haven't been officially trained, but I"ve had some tips from experienced friends and have read and studied quite a bit.  (I'd love a lesson, but there isn't a kayak shop in all of Whatcom county any more!!! Anyone want to "angel invest?" LOL)

What I've come to realize is that a "low angle" stroke doesn't allow me to put the entire blade into the water even with a 240cm paddle, and my guess is that it's because I'm too high out of the water.  So I'm stuck using a high angle stroke (following hand is at head height).  I've been able to correct the tendency to paddle with all arms and have been getting my sore muscle all along my back.  It's very important to tighten up the seat straps and make sure I'm not leaning back too far.  A huge improvement in stroke and efficiency when my posture is correct, as it's much easier to rotate at the waist when I'm not reclined.  I also have found that the kayak tracks much better when I consciously make sure that my stroke ends at about my hip.  This is tough because I feel like I lose a lot of opportunity to apply power, but it does help me keep the kayak tracking and the paddle slips out of the water more quietly. I've also found that the Adventure tends to lean to one side or the other at all times and that it's difficult to keep it "quiet", or to keep it from "edging" one way or the other all the time.  I've been very tempted lately to put thigh straps on it just to see how it effects things.  Unfortunately, there isn't a way to "edge" the Adventure without actually leaning my weight slightly off center.  I can't get it to lean by just apply pressure from my hips.

~caveat~
I'm not an expert by any stretch, but this year I've been on my 'yak a lot.  I'm finally starting to hatch out of the paddling newb cocoon!  Oh, and any and all experts are more than welcome to poke holes in my description here as I could use the tips!

Kayak coaches often put tape far forward on the bow of their student's boats.  The tape is almost unreachable, but the student is supposed to aim for it with every stroke.  For racing and other speed-driven kayak pursuits, "reaching" is often the sought-after role for the leading arm.  This, in conjunction with leg-driven techniques, adds a lot more potential energy to the torso-twisting that drives the boat.  And the Monkey is right, sitting upright facilitates the above moves.

Should you be imitating the K1 and K2 guys?  I dunno.  Reaching, twisting, and adding "hang time" (the brief moment of stalled time before the paddle blade enters the water), surely will benefit your speed and distance goals.  But, it adds a lot of work, both physically and mentally, to your paddling hobby.  Unless you are really concerned with improving, and if your current technique works for you, I wouldn't focus too much on looking like those guys.  I used to be a purest in that regard, and always made technique the first priority.  But sometimes a guy just wants to have fun and space out on the water a bit..

One thing that has helped me get over all arms is to NOT think "pull paddle back", but think "pull elbow back".  This helps me use my back muscles and not my arms.