For me personally, I also need to work on stretching around my hips, knees and ankles a lot.

Glutes and hamstrings to help stay in the seated position for extended durations, also reduces sciatica induced numbness.

My ankles (achilles, soleus, etc) get stiff from the leg drive and holding the feet in the same position for so long.

Shoulders (deltoids, biceps, triceps and especially serratus anterior) are the main upper body joint I work around due to past injuries.

Alan

QUOTE:

Difficult to describe but I was given a set of stretches to do before (and after) paddling.

Mostly to do with stretching shoulder and back muscles and involve a lot of twisting. Sounds like a good subject for a video clip. I'll try to get one of the top guys to let me film them doing some stretches.

Guys will also warm up for a good 15-20 minutes before a race at about 75-80% effort.

When training they'll warm up for at least 5-10 minutes.

Hi Rob,

While waiting for the video, can you enumerate the list of stretching you do before and after paddling? Thanks

There is an article on stretching including photos in the latest SA Paddler magazine. Written by the physio from the King's Park Sports Medicine practice in Durban. Perhaps the website administrators could approach them to post it on the site?

Will do.

Greg & Oscar's 'Forward Stroke" video has a short section on stretching.

I just finished viewing Brent Reitz Video. He does teach the forward stroke but he always has a bent arm even when catching. He doesnt maximize his reach. He shows a 10 min stretch starting with the lower back and its all static. Isnt it suppose to be dynamic strecth before paddling and then static afterwards? His shoulder stretch with the paddle is dynamic and seems to warm up the rotator cuffs pretty well.

Can those who have seen Oscar and Greg's video comment? I might wanna get that.