I am on month # 2 of paddling, I've got me a OC zephyr which is a great canoe, great job OC guys! Questions: Is paddling a OC6 the same as an OC1 as far as paddle position goes etc? I watch these videos and see the OC6 guys and gals with the classic high hand above the head for the catch, and the OC1 guys look like there are not even working hard as they are motoring along. I paddle with an old vetran that also has a Zephyr and I'm working my ass off just to stay with him and he's just crusing! I don't tire, it's just frustrating watching videos and him not working hard and I'm going balls to the walls! I do 3.6 miles in a choppy bay in 35 minutes, is that good,average or slow? I've watched Johnny P and the Danny chinn videos on technique and I think I'm doing it right? I've noticed I'm much more comfortable paddling on the left side vs. the right, I'm left handed, I don't know if that makes a difference, any way, any help would be appriciated, Thanks!!
Submitted by herman on Wed, 10/22/2008 - 4:35pm
well as far as my experience goes (not very long, about a year or so), paddling oc6 is imo different. when you're paddling with 6 other guys in a canoe, you can (and im saying you should ever do this) let off a little, and the boat will still move. but then again, its harder to catch bumps with smaller/younger people. If you've got a stacked crew, then no problem. Standard weight for an OC6 is 400+lbs. Divide that among 6 guys, and when your steersman is steering not paddling, thats about 65-80lbs per paddler, plus other peoples weight. Though OC1s on the other hand (and i think i can speak for most here) is a lovely thing. It surfs nicely; only about 20 lbs (give or take); it drops into bumps and waves nicely; and you don't have a steersman yelling at you; you push when you need to, cruise when you need to. plus, reach wise is a little different between oc6 and oc1. as far as johnny p and danny ching go, they're just natural. you see them going fast because of technique and strength, and when they're mostly riding bumps. Being comfortable paddling on the left is fine. though if you ask alot of oc1 paddlers, they'll mostly tell you that they'd rather paddle on the left. reason being is that the ama causes drag. putting pressure on the ama causes more drag. paddling on the right side, keeping ama light in the water = less drag = more crazy fast time.
on a totally other note, how in the hell did you afford a zephyr after two months of paddling!?!
anyway, that's just my input,
kcchee11
#1 Wed, 10/22/2008 - 7:59pm
I'd much rather paddle on the right. You can fly the ama easier. Herman, just go out have some fun. Most clubs will put you in a six man with other novice guys so you fit in and learn etc. Either one is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.
Where you padding at?
And don't worry, it takes awhile to get everything connected and you'll be keeping up with your buddy easily.
#2 Wed, 10/22/2008 - 8:44pm
3.6 miles in 35 minutes = more than 6mph in choppy conditions after 2 months paddling, I would say you are doing just fine...but then again I am pretty slow...I do doubt that most people hop on their OC-1 and paddle 6+ mph right away...is that common???
#3 Wed, 10/22/2008 - 9:40pm
Maybe you should not hop on, you'll go faster ;-)
#4 Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:35pm
I'm guessing he's in San Diego since he was looking for an OC-1 in the San Diego area two months ago.
http://www.ocpaddler.com/node/4010
herman,
In regards to speed, you're doing good. Having that old veteran paddler to chase after will only make you faster as you keep training and fine tune your technique.
Lots of the older guys and those that have been paddling for years tend to make it look easy. Time in the boat, time on the water cannot be replaced by watching videos all the time. Pick that veterans brain to ask questions and ask for critque on what you are doing in the boat and on the water.
#5 Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:43pm
Ha, good one! Well they say that if you can lap Naples island 2.5 miles in less than 25 minutes, you are doing good so I figure for a beginner Herman, you are doing a great job, better than me for sure, I am still a minute behind you!
#6 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 12:24am
herman
Come to Maine with your Zephyr , you
ll be among many friends here who can make make you fast and help you to avoid newbie type technical problems . Youll need to paddle fast here just to stay warm .... in fact we do everything fast just to stay warm ;)With the help and expertise of the Casco Bay coaching staff and member paddlers you
ll be on course for excellence in the least possible time . But remember , theres no such thing as instant gratification with this sport . You`ll get out of paddling what you put in.Who knows , it
s entirely possible that you may become good enough to join the global cartel of OC team riders . Ill include a picture of the teams airplane.Since you ride a Zephyr we won`t need to instruct you on how to pick your equipment, apparently you are doing well already in that area.
Congratulations on your choice of a Zephyr . Hope to see you in Maine soon...... :)
#7 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 1:28am
I paddle in San Diego bay. Great way to wind down after work. I get off at 3:00pm so it allows me to get an hour+ before picking up my son for school and back to the rat race.
The bay is always different,in the afternoon, from small white cap conditions to creamy smooth with nice rollers. It least the water is warm, I can't take the cold stuff, sorry Fuzerider....I purchased my Zephyr her on the forum, I'm retiring in two years so I'm getting a headstart on reral living!
#8 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 4:15am
5.7 kl in 35 min, thats fast.
#9 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 6:15am
Herman,
Regardless of your current strength, the more time you spend on water, the more developed you neuromuscular system becomes for paddling. Just concentrate on good technique, which comes by paddling with more experinced folks and reading & questions. That's why you'll see some old skinny dude go flying by you looking like they aren't putting out. Not only do they have good technique, their body has adapted so that every muscle fiber available is focused on the stroke. It will come with time. As for OC1 vs OC6, the stroke is essentially the same but your mount is different; in an OC6 you're sitting more upright and higher off the water. Stroke rate & length may be a bit different between the two crafts too, but not enough to be concerned about. Group timing (ie: blend) is most important aspect of OC6. Try it you'll love it.
#10 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 6:55am
Hey Herman,
You're pretty close to where I paddle, I also have a Zephyr..Love it...comfortable kanu. I like paddling out around Pt. Loma, Sunset Cliffs area. Today, I felt like a change and paddled straight off the beach at Coronado (Navy Base) side and paddled across the channel to Pt. Loma. Had a little west swell for the way back in and it looks like the south swell is building a bit...it was a fun ride on my way back to the beach. I was baking out in the water today, ran out of water..haha.
my e-mail is pacificsouthswell@yahoo.com
Hey Shawn Michaels...brought my kanu up to Long Beach last week visiting family and had a great paddle around the bay and Naples Island...2.5 miles in 25:30....the Zephyr makes you work in flat wata. Still a blast.
#11 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 12:32pm
Yea, I have grown to love that place, just looking at the picture makes me feel better. I have never broken 26min and usually come in about 27.5 but I am usually doing 5 or 6 laps so I think I have become a little better at the long haul than the sprint
#12 Thu, 10/23/2008 - 9:06pm
Herman
Being a relitive newbie to the sport I can relate, paddle a zepher as well!. Just work on getting the technic down, spend lots of time on the water and have fun. speed will come with time on the water. preperation=performance.
Now lets all get on the water, it is a beautiful Saturday morning in Calif. whether in S/D of S/F
Ted out!!
#13 Sat, 10/25/2008 - 5:26am
Hey Herman another Zephyr owner here....
I found working on the right side improved my speed overall this year. I have a GPS that I strap to the front bungee so I can glance down at my speed. I am constantly over 1km/hr faster on the right. I had a more experienced club friend paddle behind me and he noticed how light the ama was on the water surface when I paddled on the right.
Time in your boat will make you faster. Buy or borrow a GPS just to know your strengths and weaknesses and then you can also tamper with rate and stroke length. Some days I can pull away from guys with a 50 rate and a longer stroke. Heading into the wind I find a 65 rate that is short helps.
Its all fun.... Like in many sports Old Guys Rule!
#14 Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:01am
Man there sure seem like a lot of enthusiastic Zephyr owns on this post...
Hey time spend on the water will make it look easier. Think of it like when/ if you go to the gym, you only go once a month the weights feel heavy. But if you go two, three times a week the weights don't feel all that hard because you have gotten stronger. Another thing in Cali you learn the technique because it becomes your best friend in flat water.
a tip on the right side paddling, at the end of your workout when your paddling in easy stay on the right and try flying the ama, learn how far you can go with it up and all the finer balance points of your boat. That will really make things easier.
#15 Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:40pm
Great advice Tpoppler!
#16 Tue, 10/28/2008 - 6:40pm
Been doing that ever since I got mine. Definitely easier to fly it than the Fusion. It's fun when your catching waves and you pop it up all the way in.
#17 Tue, 10/28/2008 - 9:58pm
The reason there`s so many enthusiastic Zephyr owners on the thread is because the boat delivers.
I `ve never been on a better boat for Hawaiian conditions and its not at all bad on the flats either .
See your local dealer for a test ride where ever you live ....
All truth all the time ......
#18 Wed, 10/29/2008 - 3:37am
I don't know how fast I was when I paddled the Zephyr on flat Lake Washington, but it certainly didn't "feel" fast. It felt huge. Comfortable, but huge...kind of like a Cadillac. But I am sure that comfort makes a big difference in bigger water.
#19 Wed, 10/29/2008 - 8:03am
I took one for a test run and loved it. my wife said I could not own moor canoes than the days in the month so Ill have to sell one.its gonna take me a while to decide witch one.
#20 Wed, 10/29/2008 - 9:39am
Mulus , you should become a canoe dealer , then your wife will let you have a whole container of canoes .
#21 Wed, 10/29/2008 - 11:53am
I want a whole container of canoes...
#22 Wed, 10/29/2008 - 12:25pm