I’ve not had aches or pains from paddling or in general, maybe because I exercise year-round or maybe because I have peasant genes. No idea.
Am a believer in getting in 30-45+ minutes of brisk exercise daily, not just in the “off” season, plus core, strength and balance training. My Concept2 D provides the cardio work needed for endurance, plus it’s a full body workout. About once a week I’ll do a series of rotator cuff exercises. Bought an Apple watch a year ago, so now I have a personal assistant on my wrist reminding me to exercise, move, and do the training. Too bad it doesn’t do motivation, but I have a video that works every time.
Since skin cancer is a concern, in the warm months I always paddle in a long sleeved rashguard made of lightweight, fast drying, moisture wicking material. Even when wet it certainly will never add weight to my arms and strain my shoulders as the article claims. It’s also cooler, even on the rare hot days we have.
My boats have minicell foam footrests so leg position is not a problem.
When low pressure moves in , my joints start talking. Rain moved in last night and getting out of bed was a chore. But , who wants to get up on a rainy, 50° morning if they don’t have to. I had my coffee at 10 am and have half hibernated with a book most of the day.
Somehow the author missed a prime tip…Use good technique. Actually the arms have not much to do with a long day… the abdominals should do the work and by pushing on one side of the paddle while pulling on the other side makes long days quite doable without a lot of fatigue.
Same goes for canoe. Arms are just fulcrums not generators of power.
General fitness, starting with the core muscle groups. Good technique uses the trunk and lower back muscles a lot. Arm paddlers slow down during the day. I like a rowing machine for rafting and drift boat handling of the oars.
I had a landscape company specializing in native plants for my last career. I found that using a large rake or a shovel moving dirt all the time could be used to replicate paddling strokes. Draws and prys and pull strokes are similar. Over time I developed great lats and still have them today.
Like most, I started in a rec kayak with a tall seatback. I thought it made sense at the time. Then came to learn it was a recovery obstacle and a crutch for good posture. I moved to a touring boat with a back band.
I came to think of the back band as more of a butt band, something to nestle against but not support my back. With practice, training the lower back muscles, I learned to comfortably sit upright for a few hours at a time.
I built a Pygmy kayak but was never comfortable in it. Sitting in a kayak for long periods was like torture to me with a history of lower back problems. I sold the kayak and went back to canoes. They are much more comfortable.
Now I favor drift boats which allow plenty of room for standing up and moving around and changing positions. I can bring multiple dogs and a weeks worth of equipment with a friend or two. For lakes I use a small outboard.
Technique seems to be primary. It is imperative to use the right muscles. Using arm muscles for power tends to lead to joint, tendon, and ligament problems in the elbows, wrists, and/or shoulders.
Brodie, Karen 2, or anybody else: Do you know of a website with a listing of qualified flatwater paddling coaches and/or workshops for intermediate flatwater paddlers to hone their paddling technique. If so, please share those. Not all of us live near a good paddling shop.
I suspect that not all backs are made the same. I can do 8-mile hikes without any back discomfort. Upright my back is fine, but sitting draws protests from the lower vertebrae. Still, I am going to give pbenter’s suggestion a try this spring. Instead of removing the back, I’ll just scoot my butt forward a half-inch in the generous seat and then try to paddle without touching the back. Thanks for the idea.
Or, for a listing of already scheduled courses (many are not listed by instructors yet due to C19 concerns - i.e. mine will not be listed for another 3 or 4 weeks). Just guessing here, but you should be ready to sign up for a Level 1 or Level 2 skills course to begin with:
Thanks KayakHank: The first link that you provided allowed me to find several instructors within 10 miles. I am going to arrange a tune-up session on my paddling technique.
I typically paddle between 100 and 110 hours per month.
I like closed cell foam seats.
All Sterlings come with seats from Redfish.
I replaced the seat in my 18X with one from Redfish.
My Petrel Play has a CLC foam seat.
In the past, most kayaks with fiberglass seats I had were somewhat uncomfortable.
(an exception was the seat in the Lincoln ‘Isle Au Haut’, for some reason it was quite comfortable).
After a bad mule wreck, first morphine is a like a gift from God. It took all day to find some. There were no helicopter available.
I have used plenty of different opiates after a femur broken in three places. They are all highly addictive and require some special management. Oxycontin and hydrocodone are good ones. I like Codeine a lot.
For paddling I bring a back brace, Ace bandages, NSAIDs and DMSO.
After a bad back wreck, and subsequent surgery, I was given opiates. As good as they are at reducing pain, the side effects weren’t worth it. A couple of Advil keep me functional.
Lots of good advice/information shared here…thanks.
I am 68, and one of the things to success I have found is a relationship exist between preparation, and results.
Look at the simple task of just painting something…the more time spent on prepping, which can be very boring, produces a much better finished painted product.
This observations extends into every segment of our lives…use it, and enjoy greater success!
