I'm no expert but I found the opposite..

Higher cadence (faster paddle return) means not letting the board slow down between stroke and that keep board speed up..

But it's hard on your ticker and lungs.

DJ

I like to think it's different strokes for different folks. Seriously. You can't apply the same assumption to everybody.

PTWoody said...
I like to think it's different strokes for different folks. Seriously. You can't apply the same assumption to everybody.

I always thought the same. Small blade high cadence for those people that have a stronger cadio fitness, bigger blade slower cadence for those that have a bigger muscle base fitness.

Fast and slow twitch muscles?? Don't really know how to apply it but I've heard it spoken a few times and apparently genetics plays a big part in which dominates you

PTWoody said...
I like to think it's different strokes for different folks. Seriously. You can't apply the same assumption to everybody.

This.

Just to illustrate, I have three sizes of Ke Nalu paddle, all with the same comfortable shaft length. I'm not fast or competitive in race terms but I had the impression that I was going faster with the little one at high cadence. I have lately been testing this by timing myself with the different sizes over short and middle distances (same board and and fin, in a range of conditions). So far I'm finding I'm slower with the smallest blade at high cadence by about 30-40 sec/km compared to the mid-size. Over a 6k course that's as much as 3-4 minutes. Between the medium and big - seems over short distances up to about 5k I'm quicker with the biggest blade by about 10-15sec per km, longer runs the mid-size has the edge but that's probably more to do with my lack of fitness. I'm tallish and have a lot more body mass to move than most. Light/lean/short paddlers would probably find different.

Go as fast as you can with the same reach and catch at a speed and intensity that your fitness can maintain. A lot easier to say than to do. The Tahitians have proven the dominance of their style over the Hawaiians in OC6 and you just have to look at Olympic rowers to see it in action. No use doing it if you can't maintain perfect form and start throwing your weight around though. Hence the Danny Ching's of this world perform their magic and we scratch our heads and wonder how.

I do think there is an upper limit where rocking the board from high cadence detracts from it, especially for big guys. They blow out quicker and overheat too - it takes a lot more energy to move a longer body over a longer distance at the same cadence.

petedorries said...
Doing a shorter stroke (faster cadance) or a longer stroke (slower cadance) still all comes down to the CATCH.
You need to have a look at your overall technique.
I actually have my guys/gals learn to do both and incorporate both into their paddling.

Paddling effortlessly is the goal.....

Jay- I noticed you were probably over reaching on the catch so not having the blade enter the water at the correct angle????
Its all about the ANGLE OF THE DANGLE

Possibly, only because I've read several times you need to reach more as the further you can reach away the longer your stroke will be. I guess it's just all trial and error for me. Thanks for the tip Pete