Question for the experts

I'd say that it compares in many ways to road cycling. I am relatively new to OC paddling, but have years of experience with cycling and find some similarities. Of course paddling focuses primarily on the upper half of the body and cycling the lower, but the efforts are similar in terms of affecting large muscle groups, requiring a combination of muscle strength and aerobic capacity, sustained efforts, cadence or stroke rate, accelerations, uphill/upwind vs. downhill/downwind, etc.

The best part is that the penalty for a huli is almost always less than that of falling off your bike!

Raphael

#1 Wed, 06/20/2007 - 11:15am

 The most helpful answer to your question would require more information on the nature of your research project. But for starters, let's assume a OC-6 since the timing and synchronization are so critical . "Closely related" can be broken down into 1. Aerobic conditioning 2. Bio-mechanics and technique and 3. Timing and Coordination.
1. Paddling is an intense aerobic activity, with a sustained heart rate above 150 bpm for up to an hour. Virtually any VO max type sport is related, but I'm surprised at the high percentage of novice paddlers who come from a triathlete background.
2. Bio-mechanics. The closest related sport is competitive swimming. The sequence of movements is identical, a clean entry and shoulder rotation, a definite "catch" , a downward drive with the hand stationary and driving the body over a fixed point, a release in the water, and then a relaxed recovery with another entry reaching forward as far as possible. Likewise golf and tennis give a good feeling of the torso rotating around the spine with the head steady, and the power coming from a uncoiling the shoulders with a leg drive. 
3. There is a big difference between being on a "team" and paddling a canoe. In what other sport are the team members required to perform in absolute unity? I can only think of a rowing crew and synchronized swimming. (Don't knock synchronized swimming, it's an incredibly tough sport).  Anyone who has rowed in a shell or skull picks up canoeing almost immediately. You might face a different direction but the pace set by  the stoke, the role of the coxswain (steersperson) , the timed entry etc. make canoe paddling almost a natural transition. 
 In short, you need to be in good overall condition anyway you can, and the bio-mechanics and coordination are most closely related to swimming and rowing. 

#3 Wed, 06/20/2007 - 4:02pm

dragon boat paddling is pretty similar from both a biomechanics and teamwork perspective - just have a few more bodies (10/20/50) in the boat!

I would also agree with Mr. Blane about the swimming stroke being similar as well.

#5 Wed, 06/20/2007 - 6:24pm

What paddling sports would be most closely related to outrigger canoeing (OC-6 & OC-1)?

How about based on similarities in paddling style?

Closest: single blade, seated, both sides

Next: single blade, seated, one side

Next: single blade, not seated

Next: double blade

#7 Thu, 06/21/2007 - 9:20am

wtf is that sport (right above ikaika) with the guys on on knee??

It is variously called sprint canoeing, flatwater canoeing, or high kneel canoeing. There are designations like C-1, C-2 based on the number of paddlers (the picture shows C-2). It is an Olympic sport. High kneel paddling can be done in some boats where one normally paddles while seated. I have never seen it done in an outrigger canoe, but have seen it done in a dragon boat (dragon boat teams from Asia more commonly do it, because it is allowed in the races there).

I thought someone would ask about the second picture (the one above the dragon boats)... in case anyone was wondering, it is a snake boat, as used in the Indian state of Kerala. Large ones have about 100 paddlers. Another picture:

In Thailand, they have similar boats called swan boats with up to 50 paddlers:

#9 Fri, 06/22/2007 - 3:35pm