Raced a double oc last sat. Paddling partner said, we're faster when you stroke on the right.
Confirmed yest on my OC1 with gps on small freshwater lake. The difference ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 mph. The right even feels more powerful, connecting better with water. ama seems to dip up and down a bit on the left
any hints on improvement? Planning to take more strokes on left to build up power--a minor tendon pull plagued me last year after a July race.
I want to get a paddling friend to shoot video.
thanks.
Submitted by kayak4water on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:17pm
The video is a good idea. I went on an OC2 with a girl in my club. We went faster when I stroked on my left and she was on the right. She was sitting behind me. She rarely paddles OC1 or OC2, and this was her first time on a canoe with me.
We eventually worked out that when she changed to the left, she leant on the ama and compressed it, slowing us down. She didn't want to get wet that day (yeah, I know).
I'm not saying that's whats going on in your case, just that the video could be really helpful in picking up if anything like that is happening. Could be interesting also to compare your stroke length on either side and also if you are pulling further back on one side than the other.
#1 Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:28pm
That is pretty common, as you compress the Ama paddling on the left. Play around with your rigging. In another post i was surprised to hear Karel rigs with the main hull leaning right. I asked him in detail about this during his stay in OZ. (over a beer actually ...hahaha ... Little Creatures Brand)
I'll post in detail what he said later i'm in the middle of something at the moment.
R
#2 Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:37pm
Probably due to our "asymmetric bodies" caused by paddling outriggers with the ama on the left. Go get yourself an older OC-1 and do a few sessions a week with the ama on the right. Be prepared to get a lot of flack for doing so though. So just tell those, who yell at you that your ama is on the "wrong side," that you're just balancing symmetries. Trust me, your okole will love you for doing so too.
#3 Wed, 01/21/2009 - 7:48pm