How can you paddle faster? It’s not all about fitness, technique is important too. Here are a couple tips to propel you efficiently and effectively through the water.

BASIC TECHNIQUES PRINCIPLES

Rotate – Learn to use your lats, traps, obliques and lower back muscles. Your arms have small muscles that tire quickly. Learn to activate the bigger ones.

Reach – The first third of your stroke is where you get all your power. The first third is the most important. Reach and get your whole blade in the water as close to the front of the boat as you can.

Make a ‘D’ shape with your arms – Keep your arms straighter. If you bend them you are using your small arm muscles, if you rotate and use your back muscles instead you will be more efficient and tire less.

Look ahead, relax your neck – Tensing only takes energy away from your paddling and causes cramping.

Use your legs to stabilize (keep boat flat) – Try not to wobble side to side as this does not help to propel you forward.

FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE POWER STROKE

Catch
o Entry close to the boat, max reach
o Most of the power in the first foot of stroke

Pull-through
o Blade moves away from centerline (45 degrees)

Exit
o Just before hip

Recovery
o Relax (loosen grip – sometimes open hand and stretch fingers)

Practice, practice, practice! Every Tues. night in Deep Cove, or Wed. nights with Ecomarine at their Jericho location.