Proper Technique for Paddling a Kayak
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2016
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The proper technique for paddling a kayak is explained and demonstrated by World Champion kayaker, Ken Whiting, in this episode of Paddle TV. By developing good technique, you will not only paddle more efficiently, but be safer on the water.
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For a feathered paddle, the control hand doesn't need to twist the shaft much if at all. That natural action of raising and lower the control hand as you paddle changes the angle of the whole forearm and it is mostly this that rotates the shaft so the wrist should not be under any undue stress from it. Don't worry, it won't cause RSI.
There is nothing in the video about paddling efficiently. While beginners are encouraged to just paddle however they want, that does not serve them to enjoy a fatigue free paddle. There are well established techniques that will greatly improve a paddlers endurance. The arms are weak and paddling with just the arms will soon bring fatigue. You can improve this situation by mostly twisting the torso to make each stroke. This way, the more powerful diagonal muscles in the back power the paddle stroke.
But yet, there is more. If the legs are comfortably bent & knees not solidly locked into knee rests, the paddler can, during the power stroke also extend the power side leg, to push on the foot rest, while at the same time raise the opposite knee so the leg on that side is shortened. This has the effect of rotating the pelvis to hep drive the stroke from the much more powerful leg muscles, through the pelvis, core, torso and arms. It shares the l paddling load through more capable muscle groups, protecting the weaker ones form fatigue. You are not only engaging the bodies most powerful and endurance tuned muscles now, but also greatly extending the paddle stroke length. While this is a racing technique, you don't have to use it that way, just keep your effort within your own comfortable limits and this will greatly increase the time and range you comfortably and confidently enjoy exploring the waterways, whatever your current fitness happens to be.
While this is a racing technique, don't treat it all serious & competitive like that. Just use it to enjoy more time exploring more of the waterways. I hope some find this helpful.
I have been paddling kayaks for about 14 years. It is still always good to watch proper technique tutorial videos. These are great for experienced paddlers, and even better for beginners. Thanks for making kayaks even more fun, and safer for everyone. All of my paddles can be feathered for either left or right handed people. I'm a south paw.
High quality demo, thanks for posting
Thank you this video was so helpful!
Thanks for posting. Nice video. I will try using those techniques for my next paddling session on the water.
This video is about general paddling technique. If you're looking for a video that breaks down the proper technique for the forward stroke in a kayak, including the use of torso rotation to maximize the efficiency of your forward stroke, here's the link. th-cam.com/video/F2fGKNFEURw/w-d-xo.html
It took me many viewings plus a few hours on the water to realize what I was doing wrong - trying to stay dry. Once I ignored drips from my paddles, it all clicked. I doubled my range instantly and was far less tired. Synthetic clothes soaked and maybe took on a pint of water.
Thanks for the video, super useful!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for all you do!
My pleasure Jordan!
Thanks for posting. Nice video. I will try using those techniques for my next paddling session on the water. I've only paddled 60 miles since starting with a kayak paddle, and I think I've picked up a few bad habits of paddling form. :-(
thanks buddy. After 1.5 years of paddling, I start realizing (some of) my mistakes. Trying to correct them one by one.
cheers .🍻
Glad to help!
A paddle offset to either side can be used by both left- and right-handed people. There is no correct way there. And feathered paddles isn't mainly used to reduce air-resistance, but to allow for a better technique.
Feathered paddles allow better control as you aren't fighting the wind with your top hand.
Left hand feathers are normally used by left handers ( left hand is the control hand) and right hand.... you get the idea.
That's a paddlin'
Thanks for explaining the offset. I know now that a Southpaw like me can't just flip the paddle end-for-end.
I also paddle left handed though I am normally right handed, perhaps because in hockey, the left hand is always the control hand.
Flipping the paddle end for end doesn't work as you still end up with the right blade curving the wrong way. Some multi piece paddles allow one blade to rotate and lock into either left or right handed control. I think that is what he meant by "flipping"
If a right handed paddle has 90 deg feather, you can just paddle left handed with one blade curving in reverse. It's just a little awkward is all. I still hate having to do that though!
Thanks for the tips! Where did you film the video? Looks like a great spot to paddle.
Hi from NZ, I love the video but as a first time kayaker I'm trying to figure out what gives the most power and/or stability. I can keep the paddles relatively shallow and hold them low - more like when I was rowing - or I can dig them in steeply. Somewhere between those two I keep scraping the paddle against the hand-loop bolted to the hull. And when I'm keeping the paddle as shallow as possible, I found that I can then pivot my upper body and kinda swing the paddle to add power to my arms, but this is less stable and the additional power makes the kayak snake more through the water. How can we get max power without it snaking, is that technique or hull design? All that said, you DID show me like a billion examples of people actually paddling lol - so I can SEE that you favour the steeper entry, which requires holding them higher than I have been so I'll give that a go. Thanks!
This was very helpful! Only feedback would be to reduce the volume of the music.
Cool
The weird quiet vocalizations in the background song are creeping me out...I think it's saying a URL, but I can't quite hear it.
Creepy is a good word for it ...like some weird clown horror flick. I don't get why someone would muck up their video instruction with that pointless noise in t he background. Shame, otherwise well done and informative.
I do this for fun when I go to the lake with my sister and I’m paddling the hell out of the water to go as fast as possible 😂
Wait, so you didn't buy the copyrighted background music and didn't notice the audio watermark?!
Nice video... but why, why why this music while you are speaking? Lower the mix volume of the music and all would be more focused.
Hi, do you have any tips for thumb pain/skin on the thumbs being grazed off when paddling? as I feel I am doing the same holding technique as you are, thanks🙏🏻
You are gripping to hard, when you paddle let open your hand a little each time you paddle on each side.
I was hoping he would talk about how to not knock your knuckles against the side of the kayak while paddling, which is the annoying problem I'm having.
Might be the kayak that you're using, or the sitting position in your kayak. If you're sitting too low in the kayak and the kayak is too wide, you can end up knocking your knuckles.
The text hides the visuals
How come lots of paddles only had finger rests on one side? (Mostly on the right side)
These are 'right hand control' paddles. The idea is that the right hand stays in a fixed position, while the left hand allows the paddle to rotate within it between strokes, to accommodate the offset of the blades. This is key when a paddle has a large offset (45-90 degrees), but less important for paddles with little or no offset.
@@PaddleTV thanks, my paddle is not offset, but still has it. Mind explaining more?
Got a tendinitis after my first 3 days of paddling. It took a year to fully recover. I would have avoided it, if I would have watched an instruction video first. Don't grip to tight and let the shoulders do the hard work.
Thanks for sharing!
Good video but get rid of the music.
What do you think of self-feathering paddles as at: th-cam.com/video/pV6JpuVJbWo/w-d-xo.html ?
I’m still mad at this guy for cutting out Walter White from his own company
Everyone in this video is using their arms to paddle instead of their core/shoulders. That is not good technique.
It's true that this video doesn't emphasize the importance of torso rotation for your strokes. For a breakdown of the forward stroke and the use of torso rotation to maximize the efficiency of your strokes, check out this video: th-cam.com/video/F2fGKNFEURw/w-d-xo.html
Єто происходит потому, что лопасти весла не имеют разворота!
So pretty poor technique :(
Not extending the top arm to engage trunk rotation, and "lifting water" at the end of the stroke, tiring and inefficient.
Lifting water actually derives from punching/extending the top arm. Trunk rotation is why you don't need to extend your top arm. In fact, you can paddle without almost any arm motion, because your torso is the driving power for your paddle, not your arms. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.
"Lifting water actually derives from punching/extending the top arm"
It comes from not using a slight outwords slicing motion at the end of the stroke.
" In fact, you can paddle without almost any arm motion, because your torso is the driving power for your paddle, not your arms."
Correct, but it only works with an (mostly) extended top arm.
When I first started Slalom was the "thing", and everyone had good technique.
Then Plastic boats appeared and the owners all seemed to keep the paddle low (possibly because the boats were so wide) and not rotate :(
ps
Watched a bit of the vid again and I may have been a bit harsh ..
It's the bearded guy who is diabolical, but you still don't extend your top arm enough.
Maybe Kevin needs to do a video
@@glenndaugherity6187
I'm too ugly to be seen on camera.
th-cam.com/video/i_SZMAYaWdU/w-d-xo.html
The Canadian has beautiful trunk rotation, but they are using wings so the rest of the technique isn't relevant.
So many of these videos are in my opinion bad technique. There’s no purpose paddling so far back, the paddle should stop right as it aligns with the body, anything more is just recovery. Using your body and twisting a little to utilize your obliques and back muscles provides for a better stroke that is stronger and can last longer in regards to endurance vs small arm muscles.
Stop arm paddling...
With all due respect ken, you know very little about proper paddling technique. Your placing the paddle in the water too early and taking it out too late you’re using your arms too much and not your torso this results in an incredibly inefficient stroke which tires a paddler out, I’m really surprised to see that you don’t actually know all the different physics of paddling