A successful drive phase, when the paddle is in the water, depends upon a good set up and catch.
The drive phase involves pushing with the leg on the same side as the paddle stroke so that your leg almost straightens, this in turn swivels your bum in the seat and rotates your torso. This ‘unwinding’ of your torso is what powers your paddle. Try to avoid pushing with the top arm and/or pulling with your lower arm. During the stroke, your arms should stay in more or less their starting position, with your legs and torso doing all the work by rotating: your arms obviously do move, but in unison with your torso as if fixed in position. Your arms are really only there to hold the paddle in the right position, not to power the boat.
Your bottom arm should remain almost straight throughout the power phase. Your top arm should remain with the upper arm lifted to level with your shoulder and your forearm at right angles to your lower arm. Your top hand should remain at about eye level throughout the stroke. A good way of checking is to make sure your top hand moves across the horizon during the stroke.
Your paddle should start as close to the bow of your kayak as possible but sweep away during the stroke.
Your paddle should stay roughly parallel to your chest throughout the stroke so that your torso, arms and paddle form a box. Try not to collapse the ‘box’ by moving your arms out of position.
You should maintain a downward force throughout the stroke so that your top arm is forcing the paddle down into the water.
The paddle stroke finishes when you have finished ‘unwinding’ (rotating). The paddle should go no further back than your hips.
Throughout the stroke try not to bob backwards and forwards, your body rotates but doesn’t move backwards and forwards. Also don’t lean away from the paddle stroke, try to stay upright. Doing any of these things leaks power and your paddle stroke becomes less efficient.
Common errors include:
- Pushing with the top arm
- Pulling with the bottom arm
- Letting the top arm drop during the stroke – your hand should remain more or less at eye level throughout.
- Allowing your top arm to move too far across the boat thereby collapsing the ‘box’
- Pulling the paddle too far back
- Bobbing backwards and forwards as you paddle
- Rocking the boat from side to side or leaning away from the paddle stroke
Don’t collapse the paddling ‘box’
Keep your body straight and boat level
Note that these principles are tips for efficient paddling, not just for the racing paddler. If you adopt good technique, you will be able to paddle for longer without getting tired or faster for less effort.
