OK...here's my first question to this forum...can anyone recommend some back to basics drills for perfecting sound technique? All sports have drills, so what about ski paddling?

I have been paddling my Hayden ski for about 6 years after coming from an outrigging background.
Unfortunately, my technique still suffers from lack of fundamental stroke correction in the early stages.
I have been told by some damn good paddlers that I pull the stroke back too far (which I can feel and it sounds horrible...that wooshing sound behind you) and I know that my stroke rate is way lower than other paddlers because I can feel myself 'muscling through' the stroke (which is the outrigging way of approaching things).
Gradually, I am fixing the late exit by repeating to myself the mantra "let it go, let it go"...the water that is. I spent 90 minutes recently with Rod Taylor at Mooloolaba in a one-on-one coaching session which was absolutely fantastic. He did teach me one drill, but I am wondering if there are other drills that I can use to 'de-construct' the stroke and take it back to the elementals.

Another question is....when you DO get the technique right (even fleetingly) isnt it true that it feels unmistakedly RIGHT....what I mean is, I feel fairly confident that I know when my technique is hitting the spot and I've hit the right groove, coz straight away it feels so damn good? That smooooothness and stability and ease? So without an expert over my shoulder saying "You've got it girl!", that it is safe to rely on the feel coz when good technique kicks in....you can almost hear the hummmmm? The goal now is to extend that feeling from 5 seconds to at least 5 minutes then maybe 50 minutes!!

I train on flat water usually (there's no surf in Hervey Bay) so I have water that would be suitable to hold World Sprints...kms and kms of it!

Thanks in advance and thank you to the forum and website
Janita K
Hervey Bay
QLD
Australia

I have recently heard of a drill advocated by Zsolt for deconstructing one's existing stroke.  You should talk to him about it, but the basic idea is that you spend multiple weeks deliberately doing nothing other than what I would describe as "impulse strokes" which consist of nothing other than suddenly applying power for a fraction of a second.  The power is applied for only ~1 food of distance, and you try to pull your paddle out at your knees.  A high stroke rate is not used--instead, you really focus on getting a very hard catch at the beginning of the stroke.  Really, you are not doing an entire stroke--just a catch.

I am sure that Zsolt's program is much more involved than just what I have described, but the above drill sounds like it is just what you need.

Janita.

I think a good method is to have an expert check you and your normal paddling partner's technique and explain any 'issues' with both techniques and what to look out for in each others technique.

There is then the possibility that your technique can be checked on a regular basis by your partner.

Thanks to everyone for such great and prompt feedback.
I am reading it all thoughtfully, will print it out and re-read at night so I'll know what to do when the alarm goes off in the morning.
Keep this thread going please if anyone else has some ideas...and I will give you some feedback once I have a chance to put it into practice and hopefully notice the results.
Thanks again and I'm still listening...
Janita K

Probably the worst drill I could think of.


But each to their own I guess.

Janita,
If you feel you are pulling the stroke too far back, check your top hand.
Make sure that it is staying level through the power phase. If this hand drops, even a bit, it
will allow your bottom arm to pull back farther and deeper.
Also maybe instead of concentrating where the blade is in refererence to pulling out at the hip, use your bottom hand as a guide. Try to see that hand coming up about mid-thigh or earlier and all in one piece(wrist, forearm,elbow and shoulder).
And as I've been told before; try to move the whole stroke forward a few inches. Rotate to get a little more catch.