Need advice on paddling on left, anyone?
live coaching is the only way to go. i was taught to almost try to look under my right arm. that helps me to have a better rotation when paddling on the left.
#1 Mon, 04/14/2008 - 9:21pm
Lean and rotate just like you do on your right. Transfer your weight and power the same way. Ensure that you're putting it all on the blade of your paddle instead of on the ama, though. No need to lean right to paddle left, just weight your paddle, not the ama.
#2 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 6:27am
Yup, IMO the whole boat & ama should lift very slightly but evenly (longitudinally & horizontally) when you take the stroke either left or right. Too much up and down of boat is inefficient. While it's important to twist & stretch forward for the catch, you can also go too far and plow the boat. Ama should be set appropriate to sea-state (or often the case, to sea temperature). The boat will always tilt slightly on either side on the outstroke, but my goal is to reduce that without compromising power from stroke.
As GoTo illustrated, I like to think of pole-vaulting when paddling in order to get my weight out of the boat and onto the paddle.
#3 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 10:22am
I like to think of pole vaulting too, but not when I'm paddling.
http://dontcostnothing.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/polevault.jpg
#4 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 1:00pm
In my very humble opinion , Danny Ching is one of the very best technical paddlers I`ve ever seen . If you can catch Danny at one of his clinics along with Johnny Puakea you would learn a great deal and save yourself alot of time paddling with less than ideal technique.
To me outrigger racing is kind of like two watersports rolled into one. One the one hand one should strive to become a good technical paddler and on the other , youll need to have good surfing skills to do well when the waters bumpy.
http://maineoutriggerchampionships.blogspot.com/
#6 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 1:13pm
Rambo,
I love you and all, but I HAVE TO disagree...
...wait do you mean "smokes" like, she's a higher vaulter? Because that might be true. I really have no idea. But Allison S. is WAY hotter, and THAT is a scientific fact.
How do you get the picture to show up like that instead of just a link?
#7 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 1:17pm
Goto, i guess we are both Patriotic, besides i like blonds better. Hahaa.
Up the Pic to a photo site and copy the html link and post here.
I use imageshack http://www.imageshack.us/
Cheers Rambo
#8 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 1:25pm
The American chick is wayyy hotter, Rambo, and I'm not at all Patriotic, just a dirty old man, really.
#11 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 3:12pm
Sorry Shawn,
I know you want to go fast on your canoe and all that, but you gotta admit - goto's pole vaulter is DA BOMB!!! She is one hot chick! God bless the USA! Or whatever country she's from!!!
#17 Tue, 04/15/2008 - 9:54pm
Shawn, Try a left handed paddle:-)
Ok seriously, this may sound insane, but you may want to have your hips checked. Its my understanding that they greatly affect the range of motion that, we as paddlers, strive for. I bet if you were to measure simple movements, reach, and flexibility, you would find the left and right vastly different.
#19 Wed, 04/16/2008 - 1:18pm
Shawn, I have found that pilates has vastly improved my balance and performance on my oc-1. I highly suggest it. It allows you to transfer your power from your legs to your paddle, its improves balance, and will help you fly them ama!
I hope this has been informative, unoffensive and will help you in your quest for paddling enlightenment. Thank you for the opportunity to share.
SPP
#20 Wed, 04/16/2008 - 2:20pm
I have a really great feeling of getting a lot of power and a good stretch/strong pull with the lat on the right side. This seems to be set up by leaning and twisting out to the right. When I do the stroke the ama comes up just a bit. If I mirror that same form when I am paddling on the left I seem to be putting weight on the ama and "plowing" it.
Is it a coaching point for OC-1 to try to lean a bit right when you paddle on the left to keep the ama "light"?
I use these coaching points from rambos site
"Chest up as if you had a gold medal to show off. Drop and rotate
lower hand and shoulder forward and show the fans on the shore the
number on your back. Then push hard with your heel on the foot brace and rotate your
shoulder so as to show the fans the gold medal on your chest. Your butt
is the pivote point in the motion and all the energy goes from the
paddle through your arm and on through to your foot on the brace
driving the boat forward."
When I drop my shoulder on the right, it is great because I lighten up the ama and get a really strong pull. When I do the same to the left, I put the weight on the ama. So I am trying lean a bit on the right when I paddle on the left. Correct? Thanks for advice. I am going to get some live coaching next month.
Much appreciated.
Submitted by Shawn Michael on