I recently gave the classic paddle event here in Perth a go and got absolutely flogged, especially paddling into the wind (A good 20 knotts!!)
On Hilly's recommendation, I had a look at a video of Jim Terell fromk quick blade paddles and have also had a look at videos from Todd Bradley from C4.
Obviously both these guys know what they are talking about but what was interesting (and confusing) was how different they appear to be with their paddle technique.
Todd Bradley seems to encourage the bottom arm to be extended and the top arm bent and seemingly seems to push away. Unless I am misinterpreting what he is saying.
Has anyone looked into these techniques and come up with any solutions?
Is there really more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to fast, efficient paddling technique?
Cheers
Adam

^^^ What he said. I too must admit to being a bit confused re paddle technique and can't help but think I could be doing it better. But what is the go, straight arms as has been advised so many times, or top arm bent and lever the paddle???

And then does it all go out the window when trying to get a wave, and you just go hell for leather??

Both strokes work and on a long paddle i'll do both as they seem to work slightly different mucles. From all the teaching i have been doing it seems to take time to get good technique as the human body takes time to learn. Its funny how the body works, i can tell someone not to use there arms and not to bend both arms to much and even though they no not to they still do.

Best thing to do is to get someone who can show you what you are doing wrong and then work on it and when guys like woggie run paddle teaching days you should attend as there is always more to learn.

Jacko

It's not "top arm bent and push away". It's more of a top arm straight and push with your shoulder, back and legs. The arms only bend enough to swing the paddle into position for a stroke. There is no way you could get a strong stoke just using your arm muscles to push the paddle away.

Don't worry about it too much. Just get out and do a heap of paddling and you will work it out. There's no real tricks as such, you just avoid using lots of small weak muscles and try to use as much of your larger muscles as possible.

downwind said...

Simon, who I bought my Werner paddle from, seemed to know what he was talking about (he is an ex Canadian canoe geek).

Anyway, he reckoned that you should reach forward for the stroke entry. Paddle should then exit as it comes level with your feet. Much further back and you are lifting water, which he said was not efficient.

After that, the higher the cadence or stroke rate the better, IMHO. Keeps the board's momentum up. In the racing on Sunday, lifting my cadence every time Chris seemed to be catching me helped me put that 50m on him back (my hard fought battle for 10th place!).

i agree here about trying to stop at your feet. ,one way to look at is you are digging the paddle down first and then pulling the board past the paddle. longer strokes on a d/w board, then hopping on a short sup will have you pulling yourself of the side of the short sup. took me a while to work it out after having trouble going back to surf sups. anyway that's my take on it

Love ya work windy
How's melbourne life?

Got a bit of a paddle up the coast this arvo as there were no waves. I tried some of Todd Bradley's techniques (If I knew how I'd post the videos) and found some real positives. I found that my stroke rate was much faster and it also seemed physically easier. Normally I find myself really pulling with the lower arm meaning that the bicep is doing all the work. This other way the work load seemed shared between shoulder, back, legs, and arms. When I hit headwind and also paddling for a wave the old habits seemed to come back as I found myself really trying to take big long grunty strokes again as opposed to shorter, quicker strokes.
More practice me thinks!

Half way down on the first page of this post are some good tips on paddling technique. Also watch the the 18'9 Penetrator vid.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51599&SearchTerms=18'9


What alot of people are not doing to keeping there core engaged they are pushing there hips out to the side cause the small muscles to do the work in stabilizing. Once this muscle gets fatigued it tightens up causing you to visit the Physio. You should be stretching after each paddle to help prevent this from happening.

Your bottom arm is normally doing all the power work if you are finding that your biceps are pulling you along you need to set your shoulders down and your scapula back and lock in your rhomboids and lats.


If you want to do up a video I would be happy to help anaylse it for you.

WINDY MILLER said...

best technique

i like to paddle with a very light wind behind me on the way out,

then after a glassy 4 hrs when the breeze kicks in , let it blow u all the way back to where u started, then nip upto gero and rig up

a.k.a the 2008 DONGRA special

happy days.

One of the best SUP surfs ever
GO THE PADDLE POPS

I just watched another C4 video that DJ posted where they again talk about driving forward with the top arm. Looking at most other vids it looks like most people extend both arms more and drive back. Is Todd Bradley the only guru that promotes his method or are there others that use this technique as well?