The Technique of Elite Flatwater Kayak Paddlers Using the Wing Paddle

Selina J Kendal & Ross H Sanders, International Journal of Sport Biomechanics, 1992, 8, 233-250.

The technique of elite New Zealand kayak paddlers using the Norweigian wing paddle was analyzed to identify factors leading to success. Five male New Zealand kayak paddlers were filmed with two high-speed cinematographic cameras. Paths of the blade tip and joint centers were determined from film data. Velocities ranged from 4.63 to 5.38 m/s. Stroke frequency ranged from 1.93 to 2.26 cycles/s. Results indicated that the more successful paddlers, based on previous competitive performances, had similar movement patterns and blade paths and that these differed from those of less successful paddlers. Their blade tip and joint center paths were more consistent across trials. More successful paddlers entered their blade well forward and closer to the longitudinal axis of the kayak than did less successful paddlers, and moved the blade a large distance laterally from the kayak and only a small distance backward with respect to the water.

Table 1: Mean scores for each subject's set of trials during the right-side stroke cycle (mean & standard deviation)

Subject..Av Vel.....Max Vel....Min Vel....delta....time to max (%) 1............5.38/0.08..5.55/0.09..5.31/0.07..0.25/0.06..25/1.03

2............5.14/----...5.45/----...5.02/----...0.43/----...26/----

3............4.97/0.05..5.24/0.06..4.88/0.07..0.44/0.10..21/1.03

4............4.77/0.06..4.98/0.13..4.61/0.04..0.34/0.08..25/0.71

5............4.71/0.18..4.88/0.13..4.52/0.09..0.44/0.08..28/0.65

Table 2: Mean scores for each subject's set of trials during the left-side stroke cycle (mean & standard deviation)

Subject..Av Vel.....Max Vel....Min Vel....delta....time to max (%) 1............5.29/0.07..5.49/0.06..5.11/0.04..0.36/0.03..29/1.32

2............5.06/----...5.41/----...4.79/----...0.62/----...26/----

3............4.03/0.05..5.31/0.04..4.59/0.01..0.72/0.04..29/0.63

4............4.63/0.07..4.98/0.06..4.53/0.07..0.28/0.03..21/2.93

5............4.65/0.09..4.83/0.06..4.41/0.08..0.42/0.06..31/0.87  

Velocity of the center of the kayak during right and left side stroke cycles. Stick figure sequence indicates the phases of the stroke cycles from a lateral view. Solid lines represent right side of paddler, dashed lines represent left side.

Table 3: Mean scores for each subject's set of trials (averaged over right and left stroke cycles, (%))

Sub..Av Vel..Stroke Freq..Stroke Time..Pull Time.......Glide Time 1.....5.33/0.09..2.26/0.02....0.44/0.00....0.30(70)/0.00(1.7)..0.13(30)/0.00(1.7)

2.....5.10/0.06..2.00/0.04....0.50/0.01....0.33(65)/0.01(2.0)..0.18(35)/0.02(2.0)

3.....5.00/0.06..1.96/0.02....0.51/0.01....0.36(71)/0.00(0.7)..0.15(29)/0.01(0.7)

4.....4.70/0.12..2.03/0.02....0.49/0.01....0.34(69)/0.01(0.7)..0.15(28)/0.00(0.7)

5.....4.68/0.16..1.93/0.02....0.52/0.01....0.37(72)/0.01(0.6)..0.15(28)/0.00(0.6)

Table 4: Mean scores for each subject's set of trials

Subject..Stroke.....Glide......Pull.......Fwd Reach..Back Reach..Slip 1...........2.36/0.02..0.70/0.04..1.66/0.04..0.92/0.03..0.75/0.08..-0.10/0.05 2...........2.49/0.01..0.88/0.08..1.68/0.01..0.99/0.00..0.75/0.00..-0.07/0.00 3...........2.55/0.03..0.74/0.02..1.81/0.01..1.08/0.03..0.88/0.02..-0.13/0.01 4...........2.32/0.04..0.71/0.02..1.61/0.02..1.03/0.03..0.78/0.06..-0.20/0.05 5...........2.43/0.01..0.67/0.02..1.76/0.02..1.03/0.05..0.93/0.05..-0.22/0.01

Table 5: Blade position with respect to X and Y axes during pull phase of right-side stroke cycle

Sub......entry x....entry y....exit x.....exit y.....displmt x...displmt y 1........0.92/0.01..0.51/0.02..0.82/0.03..1.07/0.01..-0.10/0.03..0.56/0.03 2........1.00/----...0.54/----...0.93/----...1.24/-----...0.07/----...0.70/---- 3........1.07/0.01..0.44/0.01..0.94/0.02..1.01/0.02..-0.13/0.01..0.57/0.02 4........1.03/0.01..0.63/0.02..0.83/0.01..0.99/0.03..-0.20/0.02..0.37/0.03 5........1.03/0.02..0.48/0.02..0.81/0.02..0.97/0.01..-0.22/0.01..0.48/0.01

Plan view of path of right blade tip (a) and right hand center (b) for subject S3 and subject S4 for right-side stroke cycle.  

Plan view of path of right elbow (c) and right shoulder (d) for Subject 3 and Subject 4 for the right-side stroke cycle. 

Lateral view of path of right blade tip (a) and right hand center (b) for Subject 3 and Subject 4 during the right-side stroke cycle. 

Lateral view of path of right elbow (c) and right shoulder (d) for Subject 3 and Subject 4 during the right-side stroke cycle. 

Plan view of path of right blade tip with respect to the external reference frame for Subject 3 and Subject 4 during the right side pull phases. Circles indicate fifth percentile stroke cycle.