Willie
User
| Posts: 100 |   |
|
Re:Paddling - Saturday 1st October - 2011/09/30 14:50
I vote playboat so I thought i'd just share some of my infinite wisdom on playboating........ Aye right!
1: Choose the right playboat for your body type, and your paddling needs.
The changes in playboat designs have made moves easier, and in some cases made moves possible. If you don't have a specifically designed playboat, you could easily get frustrated with the latest moves. Take the time to test some boats out in order to find the one that fits your body and works best for what you want to do.
2: Outfit your boat well.
Your kayak should fit like a good pair of shoes, snug but comfortable. With a good padding job you'll be amazed at how much more control you'll have over your boat. Just make sure that your padding job doesn't stop you from getting out if you need to.
3: Lead with the upper body and head.
All play moves involve the turning of your kayak and there is a single concept that optimizes your turning strokes. Torso Rotation! Torso Rotation involves "winding up" your body. Winding up your body, means turning your upper body so that the line between your shoulders is no longer square with the direction that your kayak (or legs) points. By planting your paddle firmly while your body is wound up in the spin direction, your stomach muscles can pull the bow around. This act of using your stomach muscles to return your body to its position of rest is referred to as "unwinding the body".
4: Keep your kayak under your control with an active blade.
Playboats have been designed to turn as quickly and effectively as possible. This is most obvious when we try to paddle a playboat in a straight line. Once you stop paddling, the kayak spins out of control. Well, the same thing happens when we attempt freestyle moves! Unless you have a paddle blade actively working in the water, your kayak is not going to be completely in your control. When youíve finished a stroke, get your next paddle in the water as soon as possible.
5: Separate your lower and upper body movements.
All play moves require keeping your body relaxed, and in so doing, allowing your upper and lower bodies to move independently and co-operatively with each other. By staying loose at the hips you will increase the amount of boat tilt that you can achieve, and you'll dramatically improve your overall balance. The key is letting your hips roll freely, while your head and weight stays over the kayak.
6: Choose the right paddle for your body type, but keep that wide grip!
Playboaters generally use shorter paddles, and paddles with less twist, than they might have used in the past. These changes speed up strokes while taking stress off the arms and shoulders. By using a shorter paddle and maintaining a 90 degree bend at the elbows when you hold your paddle, your hands should end up 3-4 inches from the blades of your paddle. This may not provide your strokes with the same power, but you will have more control over the finer movements of your paddle blade in the water.
7: Be aggressive and stay in control.
Often, a timid paddler will spend more time upside down than the aggressive paddler. This happens because the natural reaction of a paddler, not completely comfortable with their situation, is to lean back in a defensive position. By maintaining good posture you will have the most control over your kayak, and will be able to harness the most power from your strokes. Good posture means sitting up straight and leaning forward at the hips in an aggressive position.
8: Keep your weight on your kayak.
By keeping your hips loose when paddling, you can effectively control the boat tilts that you need, while your weight stays over the kayak. Keeping your weight on your kayak is vital, because it keeps your weight off your paddle. Your paddle is then completely free to move you around, and set the advanced moves up.
9: Keep your elbows low and your hands in front of your body.
The most common injury for paddlers are shoulder injuries. These injuries are nearly always the result of over extending the arms when bracing. Get into the habit of keeping your elbows low, and your hands in front of your body. There is no move that requires your hands to do otherwise, so this won't be detrimental to your paddling. If you need to reach to the back of the boat, you can keep your hands in front of your body by turning your whole upper body around. Not only are your shoulders safe, but you're now incorporating the power of torso rotation into your strokes!
10: Warm-up and stretch.
Playboating can be incredibly rough on the body, so before you throw yourself into the local hole, take the time to warm-up and stretch your muscles. Start with at least 10 minutes of activity that will get your blood pumping. Once you feel limber, then gently stretch out all the major muscle groups. When youíre all geared up and ready to go, it can be hard to hold yourself back from playing right away, but spending a short while stretching before paddling sure beats spending a few weeks having to watch videos while your body heals.
|
Club Forum 