It seems like every year at least one new boat comes out and the common question seems to be is it faster. It's kind of hard to tell with the guys who are always winning like Kai, Karel, Manny and Danny. So lets take them out of the equation cause lets face it they're gonna win on anything. What paddlers behind them (all be it not that far) have made the greatest improvements after switching to a new boat?
On the zephyr Van Gieson has been moving on that boat, not that he wasn't before.
(any one else wondering if Manny K. will be on the zephyr or vantage for solo)
On the wainui Worthington made a jump back to the top of the leader boards after changing from the Pahoa
On the Kainalu Mael has been flying, maybe in my opinion the biggest jump after changing boats.
On the hurricane no real crossovers but they still go fast. Notice though that the big wins on a Hurricane this year in Oahu came on flat races. just interesting thats all.
I know there are some young kids in the top 15 or so that are on new boats and making big jumps, but they're young so kind a hard to tell since they're young and getting faster no matter what they're on.
Here's the question, who made the biggest improvements since crossing over to a new boat (top guys/girls only) and is it the boat or the training?
Submitted by kj on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:03pm
On the one hand you can read here how OC-1 times are creeping up on the surfskis due to continually improving design and the next day the canoe doesnt matter. It would seem like taking your GPS on a few trip with different boats and paddles might tell something, or not. I have only paddled my fusion, and for a heavy paddler it is probably good that is such a long boat with a lot of voulme but I would love to put my GPS on a kaimana and give that a try and see if I felt better in one than the other or if (imprecise though it may be ) one seemed faster on the GPS. With a heartrate monitor maybe on could show speed with less effort on different boats if one were so interested. Well, I know that for me, the getting a longer paddle with a bigger blade really undoubtedly made a difference though I am sure I was working harder it felt so much better like I could accelerate and had some "torque" and got around naples island in a shorter time
#1 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 1:44am
Seeing as paddlers are winning on various canoes, it seems that it comes down to the motor. Differences between canoes are subtle. If there was one design that honestly was faster, then everyone would be on it. No top paddler would be willing to race on an inferiour design.
So we cant rant about chines / no chines, etc. but the time would probably be better spent training.
#2 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 5:58am
I would venture to guess that all 3 are rapidly improving. Gone are the days where training consisited of a pitcher, or two, of beer after (and maybe before) practice. Todays paddling athletes are applying the latest knowledge of nutrition as well as training techniques. This has probably played the biggest part in faster times. OC1's are relatively young. The designer/builders are just starting to understand how to shape a hull for specific conditions, ergonomics and styles. Theres a huge pool of untapped knowledge for most paddlers. BTW, I just recently read that if you take a 30 miunte sauna after an intense cardion workout you will increase stamina by 18%.
#3 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 6:07am
KJ, I think you answered your own question when you said to take kai, manny, and karel out of the equation cause they're gonna win on anything. Its the paddler and how smart and hard she/he trains. There is nothing else. If you think there is something else then you're not gonna be fast. I think
#4 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 6:38am
everyone knows that ultimately the paddler is what make the boat go fast, but you'd be naive to think the equipment doesn't make any difference. who's made the biggest improvements since changing to a new boat? I would say Mael since getting on his Kainalu, and Worthington since changing to the Wainui.
#5 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 7:25am
well here's my line of thinking: most people have a pretty late model boat. There are many different ones but they are probably about the same speed granted there probably is a faster one but not by much. So what makes the difference?
#6 Thu, 04/24/2008 - 8:31am