yesterday and I will be trying it out next week.
How about some learning lessons from some of you wing paddlers to help me out.
What to do and what not to do ?
Thanks in advance,
JackL
Well
I have only had mine for about 4 months. but its an Easy learn, just let it do its thing. You will see what i mean the first time you use it. I am by no means the wing expert though, unless you are talking Aircraft wings…
Wing Paddle
Jack, do you have “The Barton Mold”? It talks about wing technique. I believe there’s some info on the Epic website. And Fred (or Frank) Mancini(?) has a website with videos of various paddlers (there’s a link to this site from www.necanoe.org). I’ve had my wing for several years now and love it, although I am still trying to refine my stroke. Right now I am working on rotation and keeping my upper hand from dropping at the end of the stroke (perhaps by keeping my blade too long in the water & not snapping it out at the hips). I also need to sit up straighter and try to plant the blade by my toes and keep the catch strong. If you look at pictures of Greg Barton, the paddle shaft is almost vertical compared to the horizontal angle you see in most touring paddlers. HullSpeed probably has an article on technique. And Brent’s Forward Stroke is a good video to watch, especially if you can then get someone to video your stroke. Is this your new paddle for the Adirondack Classic? Pam
Thanks Pam
I sure would like to use that in the C-2, but I think the other paddlers might frown on it. I did get a new Zav Ultralight which I will use up there.
After training for this, you guys that do the Clinton have my utmost respect.
Will we see you at the North River?
We will also run the C-2 there since we figure some sprints will compliment the long distance training
We are bringing the QCC’s up to Mass, and will paddle that course both ways in them just to check it out.
JackL
NAHHH, PAM -HE’S GETTING LEAVING PLENTY
of time to work his stroke for next year’s Bogey & Bacall!
Uh, Jack? You looking for a platinum now that you have the wing? Y’know -they only give out golds, and ya’ll got yours twice I do believe, LOL!
Good luck as you -truly, with a wing, technique-wide newly
Paddle On!
-Frank in Miami
yeah
The vertical stroke is a must, but that came easy for me as that’s how I paddled anyway. Just waite tell you try it…
hey
What kind did you get? I got mine from Greg Barton him self!! At ECCKF
North River Race
I won’t be at the North River race since I will be out in Michigan at the USCA Nationals. However, if you’re still in the area, Wednesday night the 18th is a race in Bolton CT, it should have good C2 competition. And Saturday the 21st is the Swan River race in Dennis on the Cape, a fun twisty river with good competition, and a great party after.
One Tip…
Ben-Gay
Good luck out there
Also good luck to Steve, (canunut) I understand he is going out too.
Cheers,
JackL
Epic mid-wing length lock.
I hope it comes to me that easy, but I think that I am much farther out like Pam Described herself.
Last year in the Lumber River 40 miler they started the kayakers after the canoes, and a guy came flying by us yelling to himself; " rotate-rotate-rotate". It must have been working, cause he sure looked good.
Cheers,
JackL
tell me about it !
After c-2 paddling for almost six hours yesterday with a non stop 60 plus strokes a minute, the first thing I grabbed was the ibuprofen.
Cheers
Don’t think too hard about it
I only borrowed a wing (same model as yours) during a test paddle but adapted to it within minutes. The stroke was a bit more vertical than mine but felt so natural that when I switched back to my own paddle, it felt awkward!
Do not try to fight the blade’s natural movement after you have planted it. It will actually find its own way, or at least it seems that way compared with a regular blade. No doubt there is much more to it when it comes down to refining the stroke, but I found the above basic tips useful and never came close to capsizing, which I have heard is what happens if you try to fight it.
The wing made a noticeable difference in speed even to a first-time user like me
Helpful Tips
Took a skills clinic in the spring and came away with some very helpful tips…First of all, beginning by attempting to paddle keeping your arms just shy of locked will help your torso rotation immensely. Planting the blade deep and as close to your boat as possible will assist a vertical catch; spearing it forward whilst sitting up straight gets the blade in the water faster and buys you a longer stroke. Hitting the boat is not a bad thing every now and again, it shows you’re keeping it in tight. Wearing a hat with a brim is useful for keeping your hands high; if they dip below the level of the brim, you’re too low. Wearing a visor may do the same (wearing a Green Bay ‘cheesehead’ is permissible in QCCs). Exiting your stroke at the hips is also crucial; be sure to square the blade so it exits the water cleanly-if it doesn’t make a splash when exiting, you’ve got it. The exit should feel premature initially; most people (me) hold onto the stroke too long. A quick exit and high hand position sets you up right for torso rotation and vertical catch. It should feel like the paddle is planted in cement and you’re pulling the boat past it. Try to relax your hands that are not on the pull stroke-keeping a loose hand when ‘pushing’ forward prevents using excess energy-and let the blade do what it wants to do in the water-it will travel out to the side naturally. When it clicks, it’s a beautiful thing, like the elusive spin in cycling, or a seamless kick and glide in cross country skiing. Now if I could just piece it all together consistently…good luck and enjoy.
Nationals
Steve and I are planning to race C2 mixed masters in Michigan, after kayak on Friday.
lesson
jack- if you can come down to the atlanta area, to the lanier canoe and kayak club, they have coaches there who are willing to give individual lessons. i’ve taken 2 (over 2 years) with kris lepianka, the head coach, and they were worth every penny. or just come down and paddle with me sometime and i’ll try to teach you what kris taught me (not that i always do it…)
andrew
Congrats! & The wing Forward Stroke
– Last Updated: Aug-06-04 1:46 PM EST –
One of the main reasons a wing paddle is far, far, superior than any other kind of paddle is because it allows and encourages a "proper forward stroke," whithout forgetting that you won't need to waist so much time and energy bracing, sculling, etc... like is needed with a Euro or GP.
In no time, you will get used to it. However, there are a couples of things that might help you to do it faster and injure free:
While paddling with an Euro, one way or another, you are pulling from the bow to the sterm.
While paddling with a Wing, you should create a semi-circle, not the pulling effect! Both arms should support the power you create from your torso.
Look at this example of rotation:
http://www.pogies.com/speedstroke/speedstroke_movie.htm
DON'T ROTATE WITH YOUR SHOULDERS!
The most common mistake is to rotate with your shoulders. I would like to say that 90% of the paddlers using an Euro rotate with their shoulder, and many paddlers that start using a wing do it as well.
Using a wing and rotating with the shoulders is almost a guarantee of lateral deltoid injure.
At the biginning, it does not look obvious, but with time, you will realize what I am talking about. Hours of paddling with the SpeedStroke in front of a camcorder y TV helped me to understand the concept.
Look how Liwowski create all his power from his upper body. His arm carry the power, but they do not generate it!!!
http://www.kayaksport.net/technique/movies/LiwowskiFront.mpeg
Regards,
Iceman
PS: This is only my two cents...
The Barton video is great aid (better than the Brent's one for a wing Paddle)
If you are close to the Lanier center, I would follow Afolpe advice.
Liwowski
All his power??? Come on Ice, take a look at the guns on that guy! He’s a monster! Bis and Tris are flexed to the max - not just for support. But your point on rotation is well taken.
Hours videoing yourself? What are you after man - the 2005 Nationals? US Surf Ski Champs? 2008 Summer games? With your dedication - I’d be a cripple by now!
Hey, where’s the mako?
PS - Leave GP out of it. It’s not like a euro, unless paddled like one, and that’s as big a mistake as it is with a wing.
Continuously but slow…
I don’t want to accelerate too much the time, and then, I end up injured.
I have been working on technique, strengh, and cardio vascular endurance. Speed has to be a secondary objective these days. Although with 31 years old, I am too old to think in anything international, I feel I am still young enough to be able to fight the led in some national competitions “in a couple of years.” Therefore, I am looking forward to the 2005/2006 to start trying some real competitions.
According to Bruce, the Mako should arrive the port of Miami on August 20th.
With the Isthmus, I have been working great, but I want to hit the Mako to see what kind of speed I can do with it…
Regards,
Iceman