This is the second in our series of stroke correction videos. The idea is that you grab your camera and a friend to take some video footage of you paddling - upload the video to youtube (or send it to us & we'll do it for you); we display the clips here and elicit comments to help you improve your stroke. It's amazing what video footage reveals.
Paddler 4: Rob Mirlenbrink
"I uploaded my video on YouTube this morning... ...I already learned so much just from viewing it myself."
Paddler 5: Jaques de Wet
Hank McGregor shows us how it's done
And then - to give us all a reminder of what we're aiming at - here's Hank McGregor paddling in Durban.
I stand to be corrected but it looks to me as though you do what I've been doing which is keeping your upper arm too straight in the catch. I've been told to bend my upper arm so that it feels as though I'm reaching forward to get the catch further towards the front of the ski. Then, keeping the lower arm straight (which I think you do pretty well), pull with your torso ie rotating and push the upper arm straight. The first foot of the catch is the most important.
But hopefully one of the experts will either confirm this or set me straight!
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Padder 5 written by Rob Mousley,
August 18, 2007
Jacques: Again I stand to be corrected, but it looks to me as though: - You're leaning forward; you don't need to and it restricts rotation. Sit upright. - I don't see much rotation - your knees don't appear to be going up and down. You should be pushing with the leg on the same side as the paddle as you rotate. The power in the stroke comes from your torso - your back and stomach muscles should be doing most of the work.
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... written by Jacques de Wet,
August 21, 2007
Thanks for your input Rob. It is highly appreciated. You are definitely right, I need more rotation. I just have a few questions concerning that. 1.Leg movement: Do I have to push hard with my foot against the kick plate and my bum against the back of the seat or do I lift the opposite leg and just straighten the other one to allow my bum to rotate, without pressing so hard? Do I lift my heel about 4cm from the kick plate on the opposite side? 2.Foot paddles: Is it fine if I step the foot paddles a little left and right as I rotate? 3.Foot strap: What is the purpose of the foot strap? Do I have to pull against it with my opposite foot or is it only for keeping me in when I am going through the surf?
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Jacques written by Rob Mousley,
August 21, 2007
Hi Jacques, 1. I don't lift the relaxed leg at all - it's just relaxed and the knee comes up naturally while the other leg is pushing. It's a coordinated movement - top hand straightening & pushing the top of the paddle (almost punching from the sholder); torso twisting; lower arm straight; one leg pushing and your hips twisting; other leg relaxed knee bobbing up. 2. It's better if you can adjust the pedals so that it doesn't happen - every time you do that, energy is wasted as the boat wiggles back and forth. 3. There was a busy topic on this on the forums... On skis with tight (adjustable) straps like the V10 & Red7, the top guys do pull back with the "other" foot. Most guys I paddle with are not at that level! My ski's footstrap isn't adjustable and doesn't allow for it. I'd say that's a very advanced refinement and for me I'd work on the basics first!
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... written by Zinzan55,
August 23, 2007
Hi Rob my 2 cents worth on this issue from a relative beginner (1.5 years paddling). More rubbish is spoken on the topic of what is good or bad in a paddle stroke than by the bunch of average paddler than any other and to a beginner like I was at the beginning of last year it leaves you hopelessly lost. I know that sounds a bit harsh and negative but I afraid it is the truth. Having been through all of that when I started out, hungry for information and absorbing everything you end up doing just about everything wrong. It is amazing how many people think they are expert stroke coaches. Now I would not want my stroke analysed by anybody except someone at the very top (sprint coach) and be prepared to pay for it. Until I do that - the best help I have had for my stroke was to buy Oscar C and Greg Bartons' Stroke DVD. Absorbing it put to bed so much rubbish I had heard, read etc on the subject and this has had the biggest impact on how I paddle currently. I would strongly advise it to anyone. Typical example of what I'm talking about is the issue of using your legs when you paddle. You are told by "everyone" when you start paddling that you must pump your knees up and down. If you try to do exactly that and your stroke is still on a steep leaning curve it just causes a total un-coordinated shambles. Oscar & Greg's DVD tells you to focus on getting shoulder and hip rotation - and the strangest thing happens when you get that right!!, you suddenly look down and your legs are pumpimg up and down. i.e. legs moving is a result of proper body rotation not the other way round. And the more you get that right (and the stronger you get) you find yourself now pushing and pulling with your feet on the foot plate and strap but the concentration is on proper body rotation. So when are the top guys going to look at the clips?
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forward stroke written by corry fitzgibbons,
August 24, 2007
Hello all,
I agree with the comments above. As I help some of my buddies learn to surfski, and coach an outrigger team I have found that bringing the stroke back to basics, beginning with learning to generate power with your core and how you use your hips to to do that is much more important than telling somebody what to do with your top hand or pushing with feet etc. One of the best instructional aids I have found was the Brent Reitz Forward Stroke video, I have also taken his one day class. There are very basic and well explained tenets of the proper stroke discussed in his video, and also many myths dispelled. I have watched his video about 30 times, and then put a couple thousand miles on practicing his lessons. With those efforts I have made dramatic moves in the rankings in our local winter races in California, I still have a long way to go so I will see you on the water. Good luck to everyone, the sport rocks.
Corry
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... written by Zsolt Szadovszki,
August 27, 2007
Hey Rob (paddler4)!
Here are some thoughts:
I would try the following things
-hold the paddle with a narrower grip- lets make it two inches less on each side -Try to keep your lower wrist closer to your ski.. especially at the first part of the stroke (from your entry to your vertical position) then just let it go without forcing it out! -Bend your elbow after your exit (Try to lift your wrist up first) elbow and shoulder stay down and become relaxed -
-Nice torso rotation, keep that up?. One thing you can add to this to make it even more efficient ?place the paddle blade in a little further up front.
- At the entry position, when everything is outstretched, the core of the body moves first
My suggestion is to just pick one ?..and stick with it for a little while!
Have fun! Zsolt
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... written by MFB,
August 29, 2007
Zsolt,
If wrist up first with elbow and shoulder staying down, wouldn't that be an ineffective way of pushing? The push comes from the rotation too right?
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I stand to be corrected but it looks to me as though you do what I've been doing which is keeping your upper arm too straight in the catch. I've been told to bend my upper arm so that it feels as though I'm reaching forward to get the catch further towards the front of the ski. Then, keeping the lower arm straight (which I think you do pretty well), pull with your torso ie rotating and push the upper arm straight. The first foot of the catch is the most important.
But hopefully one of the experts will either confirm this or set me straight!