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Three Paddling Principles
words: Kent Ford
photo: Dunbar Hardy
I enjoy paddling in a variety of boats - canoes for wilderness tours, a C-1 for technical precision, sea kayaks for coastal tours, sit on tops for the tropical shores, a playboat for aggressive fun in whitewater. It’s like having ten different sports, all within paddling. Variety is the spice of life. But through all the different aspects of paddling I have discovered a common set of concepts that help me get full enjoyment on the water regardless of whatever boat I’m in.
Balance
If you are stiff, you'll flip! Balance relies on the ability to allow the boat to find stability and adjust underneath you. Wobbles are part of re-stabilizing. Certain moves require a boat tilted up on edge. To accomplish this, you need to coordinate your lower body (legs, hips, waist) to do one thing, while your upper body (torso, arms) does another. Your lower body may need to tilt the boat to handle waves, while your upper body provides powerful strokes.
So often, our flexibility is the governing factor of our ability to handle these balance chores. Tighter muscles seem to tense up too much, and translates to all the wrong motions down into our boat. Flexibility also determines comfort, particularly in a kayak, where sitting upright challenges stomach muscles to overpower the hamstrings to allow a nice relaxed upright paddling posture. When you slump back you can feel your power and balance diminish. Note to self: Do some hamstring, buttocks, and torso twisting exercises to prepare for comfortable paddling!
Powerbase
Keeping up with my friends, and paddling longer distances more easily makes the sport more fun. To provide power you must recognize that your engine is your torso, your arms are the transmission, and your wheels are the blades. The more you can harness power from an upright rotating torso, the more your arms can stay straight, and more effectively transmit your power to the blades. Better flexibility will also help with power.
Less is more... that is the cool thing about providing power. A lighter grip on the paddle shaft helps the blade self-adjust to the water, and helps avoid wrist and elbow tendonitis. Besides, tension in the hands tends to travel up the body locking up your entire range of motion. ‘Less is more’ also governs how the blade should impact the water. Being gentle with the blade as it enters the water helps the blade stick and grip the water. When the blade is splashing, it is simply traveling through the water rather than providing a firm grip to pull against.
Mental Discipline
Paddling can be so much fun, that we paddlers often overlook the opportunity to do drills that allow us to progressively improve our skills in the sport. Drills are the basis for improving in any sport, and paddling is no exception. Lots of books and videos exist that can demonstrate and explain fundamental skills to practice. Experiment with strokes and attitude, and set aside part of every outing to learn a little more about how your blade, body, and boat interact.
While practicing, be gentle on your mind. Your learning pores are most receptive when you are gently challenged and alert, but not fearful. Comfortable, but not bored. Stay tuned to how you talk to yourself; be sure you are providing yourself with paddling opportunities that are consistently fun. Find friends that provide a supportive environment for every trip. It is all a part of messing around in boats.
Kent Ford's background includes twenty years of teaching paddling, international whitewater racing, including World Championship titles, coaching for the US Team, and working as public address announcer at the last four Olympic Games. He has produced seventeen videos and books on paddlesports. To find out more about Kent’s instruction and books/videos, go to www.performancevideo.com
words: Kent Ford
photo: Dunbar Hardy
Balance
If you are stiff, you'll flip! Balance relies on the ability to allow the boat to find stability and adjust underneath you. Wobbles are part of re-stabilizing. Certain moves require a boat tilted up on edge. To accomplish this, you need to coordinate your lower body (legs, hips, waist) to do one thing, while your upper body (torso, arms) does another. Your lower body may need to tilt the boat to handle waves, while your upper body provides powerful strokes.
So often, our flexibility is the governing factor of our ability to handle these balance chores. Tighter muscles seem to tense up too much, and translates to all the wrong motions down into our boat. Flexibility also determines comfort, particularly in a kayak, where sitting upright challenges stomach muscles to overpower the hamstrings to allow a nice relaxed upright paddling posture. When you slump back you can feel your power and balance diminish. Note to self: Do some hamstring, buttocks, and torso twisting exercises to prepare for comfortable paddling!
Powerbase
Keeping up with my friends, and paddling longer distances more easily makes the sport more fun. To provide power you must recognize that your engine is your torso, your arms are the transmission, and your wheels are the blades. The more you can harness power from an upright rotating torso, the more your arms can stay straight, and more effectively transmit your power to the blades. Better flexibility will also help with power.
Less is more... that is the cool thing about providing power. A lighter grip on the paddle shaft helps the blade self-adjust to the water, and helps avoid wrist and elbow tendonitis. Besides, tension in the hands tends to travel up the body locking up your entire range of motion. ‘Less is more’ also governs how the blade should impact the water. Being gentle with the blade as it enters the water helps the blade stick and grip the water. When the blade is splashing, it is simply traveling through the water rather than providing a firm grip to pull against.
Paddling can be so much fun, that we paddlers often overlook the opportunity to do drills that allow us to progressively improve our skills in the sport. Drills are the basis for improving in any sport, and paddling is no exception. Lots of books and videos exist that can demonstrate and explain fundamental skills to practice. Experiment with strokes and attitude, and set aside part of every outing to learn a little more about how your blade, body, and boat interact.
While practicing, be gentle on your mind. Your learning pores are most receptive when you are gently challenged and alert, but not fearful. Comfortable, but not bored. Stay tuned to how you talk to yourself; be sure you are providing yourself with paddling opportunities that are consistently fun. Find friends that provide a supportive environment for every trip. It is all a part of messing around in boats.
Kent Ford's background includes twenty years of teaching paddling, international whitewater racing, including World Championship titles, coaching for the US Team, and working as public address announcer at the last four Olympic Games. He has produced seventeen videos and books on paddlesports. To find out more about Kent’s instruction and books/videos, go to www.performancevideo.com
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