How to improve your Paddling Technique

How to improve your paddling technique Kayak Paddling Technique. I have spent a lot of time on the water with a number of kayak tour companies and the most frequent questions I hear from the clients are - What is the correct kayak paddling technique? Or how to paddle straight? Often especially with inexperienced paddler you will find the greatest problems of kayaking is how to do things more efficiently is not the speed but the control and direction. Once you have a good understanding of these elements of kayaking then you will be able to progress to some different kayak paddling technique. There are two key areas you need to focus on top improve your kayak paddling technique, once you have mastered these you will be able to progress quickly. 1) Inefficient strokes To make a stroke efficient, it must be optimized to cover a greater distance with lesser power. Keep your paddle blade fully immersed in the water as you pull against it. This increases the amount of surface area in contact with the water to make your stroke more efficient. Also like in swimming if you reach forward before placing the blade in the water you will have a longer stroke which is also increasing efficiently. Its quite obvious that in order to propel a kayak forward, you need to dip the paddle blade into the water and pull back on the paddle shaft. However did you know that good kayak paddling technique indicates you should push on the shaft at the same time to generate even greater power! It's true and it works! Another common misconception is that when most people try to paddle "faster" they increase how much strength they apply to the paddle blades. While this yields greater speeds, it also comes at the high cost of rapid exhaustion! There is an alternate way to increase speed. The secret is not to pull harder on the paddle, but to minimize time between strokes. Your paddle stroke should be one, continuous, fluid motion, similar to when your swimming freestyle. As one paddle blade is getting ready to exit the water the opposite paddle blade should already be extended far forward, ready to enter the water and begin the next stroke. At the same time you lift the exiting blade out of the water, you should already be planting the opposite blade smoothly into the water and starting to pull. These are not two separate actions, the aim is to keep the paddle constantly moving to minimize the lag between strokes, and you'll find your kayak traveling faster with minimal extra effort on your part. 2) Unbalanced strokes It is normal to have more strength on one side of your body than the other, only the most experienced kayakers may be able to make it mechanical enough they paddle with the same power in each stroke. Despite one's best efforts to ensure that both sides are given equal power, the right-hander will be likely to unconsciously turn left more with a heavier paddle on the right, and vice verse for the left-hander. An outside factor would have to be the wind, tides and current that are almost always present when sea kayaking. These elements are unpredictable and there is no real kayaking paddling technique to combat how to kayak straight in these elements. The single biggest misconception about paddling is that you only use your arms. The best paddlers know that roughly 75% of their paddling power comes from their torso. The muscles in your torso are far more powerful than the wimpy biceps and triceps that can be found on your arms. This technique will generate a much greater force, for much longer periods of time, with less fatigue or lactic acid buildup. If you incorporate this into your kayak paddling technique then your endurance level will increase substantially in comparison to paddling with your arms alone. The best solution, forget the strength, focus on doing everything more efficiency. Do full, standard strokes slowly and patiently. Momentum Is the key to good kayak paddling technique, each stroke creates momentum once traveling at your desired speed take a moment between strokes to stretch forward before your need stroke, slow and steady movements will ensure greater distance covered with less stokes and effort. Once you grasped these basics your kayak paddling technique can improve greatly from the correct posture when sitting in the kayak. There are 5 points to remember for posture and improving your kayak paddling technique, this in turn will help advance your skill and ability: 1) Sit up straight, push your solders back. 2) Use comfortable foot pegs. 3) Keep hands shoulder width apart. 4) Keep a tight grip with your dominant hand, and ensure the blade closest to that hand is always vertical. 5) Twist the paddle through the other hand as you rotate the blades for the strokes. These are the basic kayak paddling techniques needed for creating efficient motion and control of a kayak. Although it may feel uncomfortable and even unnatural at first, like any skill, it becomes easier with practice. These basics will take you along way towards becoming a more complete, accomplished paddler as these techniques are the basis for more complicated kayak paddling techniques and maneuvers. Click here to see a list of local ocean kayak tour operators. Take a tour with them see some stunning scenery and over the day they can help you with your technique. Return to the Articles Page