I find body position into the wind is important , I.E turning your body or going into a surf stance giving the wind less surface area to push against. Fluttering the blade helps too so that when you exit the stroke your not leaving the blade area to catch the wind. Works for me anyway , although I try not to paddle into the wind , its like pissing into it , doesn't end well

Stephenseals said..
I do a lot of open water paddling and sometimes into wind what is the best paddle style to save energy when paddling into wind and what's the best style for with the wind?
Would it be short quick strokes into wind and long slow strokes with the wind?

Almost the right idea but other way around.
Upwind should be your recovery... try bottom hand lower down and keep the strokes long and moving (ok to go past feet here) + feather the blade through the air.
It's very easy to think downwind as relaxing, and many times is or can be... but downwind you should be going hard in bursts catching and keeping up with linking bumps (go hard... recover and wait for next bump - repeat over and over :) )

saying all that sometimes if it's nuking windy you just have to do high rep quick strokes into the wind to get anywhere... great interval training into the wind though, just make sure you get a good downwind 2nd half for on the way home.
hope that helps.
HW

Because once the stroke gets a bit past your feet, the angle of the blade means you're pulling you and the board down into the water rather than along the top of the water. Google it a bit and you wil find quite a bit about efficient paddling.

Tang said..
Because once the stroke gets a bit past your feet, the angle of the blade means you're pulling you and the board down into the water rather than along the top of the water. Google it a bit and you wil find quite a bit about efficient paddling.

The science of it all blows me away interesting I went for a run this morning into wind on the way and with on the way back and tried not to go past my feet, I have a increased my average speed slightly but more than anything it felt easier.
Thanks.

Paddling into the wind is more about leg drive insync with oncoming bumps then different types of strokes

Tang said..
Because once the stroke gets a bit past your feet, the angle of the blade means you're pulling you and the board down into the water rather than along the top of the water. Google it a bit and you wil find quite a bit about efficient paddling.

Jump on the quickblade sight.......they have a great explanatory video

Stephenseals said...

JDJ said..
Paddling into the wind is more about leg drive insync with oncoming bumps then different types of strokes

Thanks for the feedback not fully sure what you are saying can you elaberate.

Basically you want to be lifting your weight up as you rise over a bump and then drive your board forward on the way down the other side. Basically semi squats driving through your quads and forward out through your heals

JDJ said..

Stephenseals said...

JDJ said..
Paddling into the wind is more about leg drive insync with oncoming bumps then different types of strokes

Thanks for the feedback not fully sure what you are saying can you elaberate.

Basically you want to be lifting your weight up as you rise over a bump and then drive your board forward on the way down the other side. Basically semi squats driving through your quads and forward out through your heals

I will give it a go for sure.

thank you.