KAYAK TIPS
It’s often the case that
kayaking will get overlooked during training. After all, it’s far easier to pop
your trainers on and go for a run or hop on your bike, than to find some water
and a boat! So we thought we’d share some of our top tips for building speed without
using too much muscle power.
Top ten paddling tips
- Did you know that 75% of your paddle power comes from your torso rather than your arms and shoulders? Over-using the arms will quickly lead to fatigue and will have little effect on your overall speed. The simple fact is that the more you rotate your torso, the more power you will get from each stroke.
- To get maximum movement from your torso you should sit in your kayak with your back resting comfortably against the seat. Keep both arms comfortably in-front of you and take the paddle in both hands (over handed with thumbs underneath), and line up your knuckles with the upward blade edge. The most important thing to remember here is to relax and don’t hold onto the paddle too tightly. Held correctly, your paddle will rest comfortably in your hands. Using a tight grip or placing your hands too close to one another, will make paddling a tiresome task.
- Each paddle stroke works on a simple ‘pull and push’ action. The key is to keep the paddle steadily sweeping the water in a continuous movement. Always pull the paddle down with your downward stroke, whilst your upward arm should push the paddle shaft away to distribute the work evenly – and don’t forget to turn your torso into each and every stroke!
- Once you have mastered the basic stroke you can start to build on your speed. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the harder you pull on the paddle the faster you will go. Instead try to minimise the lag time between your strokes. Again, the key is to keep your movement fluid. As one blade is ready to exit the water, the opposite blade should be ready to enter. Relax and keep that paddle moving and you’ll find yourself moving faster with minimal effort.
- To get maximum control and speed from your kayak try to straighten and bend your knees when paddling forwards. For every stroke you take, straighten the leg on the same side you use the paddle blade.
- It may seem straightforward, but you would be amazed at how people lose time during a race spinning in frantic circles on the water whilst trying to control their kayaks. To turn your kayak, simply paddle on the opposite side that you want to turn into. To make your turn faster place your paddle into the water in a vertical direction on the side you want to turn to.
- During the Killarney Adventure Race you will be sharing your kayaking experience with a team mate or fellow competitor on tandem sit-on-top kayaks, and the ability to work together as a team will be crucial to your success. It is usually better to sit the most experienced paddler at the back of the boat. The person seated at the back should be in control of steering the boat, whilst the person at the front will scout for obstacles and help to pull the boat swiftly through the water. It is important to be as in sync with one another as possible, paddling on opposite sides to one another to keep the boat moving with ease. If you know your team mates well, then try to get some practice in before the race. If you are paired up with a stranger, try to spend a couple of minutes discussing your strategy before you take to the water. Above all, communicate with one another throughout!
- If you can’t access a kayak in advance of the race, there are things you can do to perfect your technique for the day. The best way to do this is to sit in some sand or loose dirt holding a broom handle. Pretend the dirt or sand is the water and practice your stroke. This will help you to visualise and improve the correct motions.
- Don’t be fooled into thinking that kayaking is easy. Even with a good technique kayaking can be tough on the shoulders, arms and backs. Make sure you are fully prepared by building on your upper body strength prior to the event. Lift weights and do press ups and pull ups on a regular basis.
- Don’t forget to enjoy yourself. Muckross Lake is truly spectacular so keep yourself as relaxed as possible and make sure you enjoy the stunning scenery and friendly atmosphere along the way!
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