Ever since you started canoeing you have been told that there are two sources of power in the stroke. There is the initial lift and pull you get from dropping your weight on the paddle at the catch and there is the force you apply to the paddle by counter-rotating your body after the stroke. All of that is true.
You also know that in order to get a good pull after the catch you have to have rotated forward with your hips, your back, and your shoulders. That is also true. What almost always get left out of the equation is that the way in which you achieve this rotation is extremely important. What I want to discuss today is the limiting effect that focusing on shoulder rotation has on your stroke.
The proper order of rotation during the recovery of the canoe stroke is hips, back, then shoulders. Too often people seem to think that if they throw their shoulders around first, that momentum will cause the back and hip to rotate as well. But what really happens is that by rotating the shoulders first you end up in a position that will not allow you to get good rotation from your hips and back – and usually leads to a very straight up and down type of stroke.
My advice is always this – Forget about shoulder rotation. It is just a natural consequence of a good stroke. If the rotation starts in the hips and you think about moving both arms forward at the same time then it is easy to get into a position where you have good hip and back rotation. The trick from here is that if you just keep your body falling forward and move your arms so that the paddle is vertical, all the while trying to go forward with both arms, you can’t help but rotate the shoulders.
By doing this you gain several inches of stroke on the catch and you have some shoulder rotation to use as pulling power. So remember, when it comes to rotation, concentrate on the hips and forget about the shoulders.
For all you dragon boaters out there the same principle applies. Move both arms forward during the recovery so that you are cross-checking the person in front of you. As you get close to the catch move the bottom arm under the top one so that the paddle is vertical and you will have excellent shoulder rotation.
I really appreciate your site and effort. I’m trying to bring ICF C-1 to Texas. I’ve gotten ahold of a few C-1′s and one C-2. Problem: I can balance my old Delta Struer C-1 and propel it forward, albeit with little stability, but I can’t keep from going in circles. The boat keeps tracking, abruptly, to the opposing side. I’ve got extensive experience in all other types of racing and sit and race comfortably in any K-boat.
I’ve heard about the kick out at the end of the stroke, but tend to fall out of the boat when I try this. How do I keep a C-1 going straight? Thanks
–West
West:
The stroke really is just a modification of the good old fashioned J-stroke. Eventually you want to be at a point where you only need to make small corrections on each stroke – but this will take time. For now my advice is to:
a) Don’t be too concerned if you go crooked, the more you practice the better you’ll get.
b) Don’t be afraid to use the side of the boat to push off at the exit.
c) If you fall in – you will eventually get better balance.
Good luck! Its great to know that there are people spreading the word out there!
Steve
Thanks, Steve. I did find that once I moved back towards the stern a few inches, that I didn’t keep going to the left as acutely. Now, I only go to the left in an easier arch. Typcially, I’ll drag my paddle to act as a rudder at the end of the stroke to correct the direction after each stroke. Mind you, I still can’t get the thing to go straight, so I’ll just keep going in circles until I get the feel of it. Also, I’ll rig the C-2 and start working in it with a partner. Perhaps that’ll be a little easier to go straight. –West
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Steve,
Thanks for starting this blog. I have found it very useful in particular your comments on the proper order of recovery hips, back, then shoulders. I had not appreaciated this before.
I have been paddling K1 for 25 years and coaching for about 10 years.
. As a result I have started to learn to paddle C1 and am enjoying the challenge.
A couple of years ago I had a C1 paddler in my coaching group and was unable to help him much help with technique
Regards
Mike Martin
Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club.
Thanks for the encouragement Mike. I hope that your quest to learn C-1 is successful, but take heart from this – Tony Hall was my coach for twenty years, was the best technique coach I ever had, and I am 99% sure that he couldn’t stay in a C-1 to save his life.
Good Luck with your C-1 and your club.
Steve