Paddling is a repetitive sport, very repetitive, which can have advantages and disadvantages. By incorporating correct technique, we can teach our muscles and nerves to fire in the most efficient manner to make us faster paddlers. However, we can also establish poor techniques and reinforce these though the repetitive nature of the sport. So how do we best combat the negatives, and turn them into a positive? One very easy, and cheap way, is to go to your local stationary store, and spend 3 bucks on a non-permanent texter and scribble on your boat! At the start of each session, set technique goals, as well as whatever performance goals you may have.

For example, in the accompanying pic I set some technique goals for the session. I was doing 4 x 15min pieces at a particular stroke rate and target speed. I also broke the session down to focus on particular aspects of the stroke. In this case, the first 15 mins I focused on trying to get a strong catch. The second 15 ,I put a little more emphasis on leg drive, and getting a nice even squeeze. The third 15, I paid particular attention to my hand height, not coming up too high on the recovery at the back, and pushing out straight in front and ear height at the front. The final 15, there was a focus on hip movement on the seat, as leg drive was applied, the hip moves back with the shoulder, while the opposite hip comes forward, getting ready for the next stroke.

Make no mistake, paddling is a hard sport. It is human nature to make things easier for ourselves, and as a result, we can slacken off on technique which feels hard, but in the long run, we are actually making things more difficult for ourselves. In a sport which is dominated by equipment, with lots of people spending big bucks to make small improvements, this small $3 spend can help yield a lot more than that $5000 ski or $400 GPS could ever do. Get your technique right, and the rest all falls into place.

See you on the water,

Stew.

The statistics show that the health of society is deteriorating, with rises in average body weights, increase in disease and decreasing fitness levels. It doesn’t make for pretty reading. So you find yourself in a situation where you’d like to shed a few pounds, get outside and enjoy the outdoors and improve your well being. You have a look around at various options. Gym? Indoors, repetitive, boring, no scenery. Running? It’s good, but high impact on your body, particularly if you’re carrying extra weight. Cycling? Great sport, but the hazards of riding on roads sway many away. Paddling?  A low impact, whole body workout. Add in glorious scenery of various waterways around the globe and you you have a fantastic sport that fits the bill, ticks the boxes. Perfect!

The benefits of paddling are many, and include:

Cardiovascular fitness. The benefits of a healthy heart and lungs are well documented and have very positive effects on your body.
Muscular strength and endurance. Paddling works the upper body and promotes muscle size and strength. More muscle = more fat burning = healthier body.
Improved mood. There’s nothing like the high experienced after a paddle as endorphins rush through the body.
Core strength. Remembering the 80/20 rule (an efficient paddle stroke is 80% body and 20% arms), the whole body gets a workout in a paddling session. An efficient stroke requires a switched on core. A strong core transfers across to general well being through good posture, as well as other sports you may participate in.

The great thing about paddling is that you can go at your own pace, and do it on your terms. Want to go for a sight seeing cruise? No problem. Aiming for a good fitness workout? Some solid interval training will yield big benefits. Want to race on Olympic final? Probably a bit harder, but we can all dream.

So where do you start? First up is the craft. From our range, the Think Fit is aimed at people who want to train, but don’t want to have to worry about stability. It’s a speedy training partner that doesn’t ask to see your paddling license before you go for a joy ride. With a kayak type cockpit, it can be paddled in lots of different conditions and climates.The storage hatch in the rear makes it an ideal touring boat, and one which can be enjoyed by all the family, as shown by our little friend above, Lucy. It really is a boat that covers a huge amount of bases.

So if you want to get fit, loose some kilos and feel healthy, then why weight? Think Fit!

See you on the water,

Stewart.

First Impressions:
The first thing I noticed when picking the boat up was how rigid the overall structure was, especially around the seat and cockpit area. Surf skis take massive strain around this part of the boat when going through surf and I’m not the lightest of guys (95kg), so a solid boat like this makes life that much easier. No matter how much I poked, prodded and pushed, I couldn’t find one soft spot. Excellent!

The second thing, was the hull. It has slightly more rocker in the nose area and an overall “beef up” in volume, especially in the nose and behind the seat. The volume behind the seat helps keep the boat on the runs and the bigger volume forward of the cockpit helps keep the nose out of the water. The chines are also slightly softer than on the Uno making the turning “bite” less pronounced.
Thirdly, was the awesome colour scheme. The two yellow racing stripes make it look like a sleek racing machine and it wasn’t even in the water yet. I’ve always had positive comments come from people about how distinguishable my Think is against all the other boats on the water during a race.

Comfort and Seat set up:
I like to sit quite high in a boat as it gives the feeling of being able to stretch forward a bit more during the stroke. Sitting higher in a boat though will make it feel slightly more unstable normally but I didn’t find it to be a problem at all in the Max. I put a bum pad in which made a big difference to my seating posture. I was once again comfortable and ready to spend 100’s of hours in the seat. There is no rule book to seat padding. It really is ‘different strokes for different folks’ and I normally don’t end up paddling with one purely because I have enough padding there already ha ha…

I was pleased to see the same pedal adjustment set up. It’s quick and simple to move around and the foot plate is as solid as a rock. I like to keep the double foot strap just snug of my feet. It makes the boat feel just that much closer to being part of your leg drive. There is also more room for those people with super long legs. I have relatively short legs so I will use the extra space for my hydration system.

In the water:
My first paddle with the boat was in and out some 2-3ft surf at my local beach. I found the boat surfed really well and was much more maneuverable on the breaking waves compared to the original Uno. When punching through foamies on the way out the cockpit went from completely full to empty in 20 odd strokes. Nice!

My first downwind was fantastic. The Uno Max keeps its momentum better than any boat I’ve paddled before. In those vital few seconds it takes to get from one run to another, the Max loses very little speed. I was also really happy to find the softer chines still give that “lifting” feeling when you fly down the face of a run.
I then decided to switch my rudder from the 9inch to the 7.5inch. A rudder change can make any boat feel like a whole different animal and it was no different in this case. The 9inch I find has quite an aggressive catch (often needed in the big stuff) but the 7.5inch makes the boat more stable and the resistance from steering down a run is much less. However, I still need to make up my mind on this one.

Overall Feeling:
The Max definitely has the speedy characteristics of the original Uno but in my personal opinion it performs better in the bigger runs. I’m really look forward to racing the Max this year. Now all I need to do is worry about my own training because I definitely can’t blame this boat for going slow ha ha…

Sean Rice
Thanks to Brandon Kilbride and DrumBeat Photography for the pics.

I started my 2011 season on an absolute high. I had finished off 2010 with a big personal victory at the Cape Point Challenge and enjoyed 6 solid weeks of rest over Christmas and New Year to rejuvenate body, mind and soul.

It was to be my 3rd year of paddling on the international stage and I felt I had shed the name and comfort of being called an “under dog” or “newbie”. I had some serious work to do if I wanted to carry on improving my performances. It was going to be a very busy racing year (9 international races) but with the support of Daryl from Think Kayak and my coach Peter Cole from Orka I felt ready. I was about to find out that the sea is never flat and we can’t always enjoy smooth sailing!

I competed in many races during the year but here are just a few of my high lights from 2011.

Euro Challenge, Spain:

Flat, hot and extremely hard is what springs to mind when I think back to this one. A top field had turned up; Dawid Mocke, Jasper Mocke, Tom Shilperoort, Hank McGregor, Tim Jacobs, Manual Busto and a bunch of other talented competitors. My race plan worked out perfectly on the day and I managed to take 1st just ahead of Dawid and Hank respectively. I also managed to bag both hotspots. It was the best way to start my year and a huge achievement for my career.

I have done this race 3 times and have gained a 3rd, 2nd and now finally a 1st!

Durban World Cup, South Africa:

Not all smooth sailing. With just 2 weeks to race day, while on an early morning running session with the ORKA Training Squad, I managed to misjudge a step on the sidewalk. I went from full pace sprint to eating tar. I knew by the loud snapping noise that came from my left ankle that I was in trouble! I had torn and stretched the 3 main tendons in my left ankle. This injury meant that I was going nowhere slowly for a while.

The first thing that came to my mind (apart from all the swear words) was “o shit….coach Pete is going to kill me! ” ha ha….. But he didn’t and with the help of my physiotherapist and plenty of TLC from my girlfriend, Emily, I was off my crutches with 4 days to race day.

My ankle still heavily strapped up and on lots of anti-inflammatories I arrived in Durban to see the swell forecast of 8ft surf and very little wind…….GREAT! The race was 26km with all the big guns of SA Surfski there. My race actually went off much better than expected with a hard earned 4th place in the end. Hank McGregor charged to the front to take the win ahead of Dawid Mocke and Matt Bouman.

The surf at the finish was brutal with a number of ski’s being broken. My finish was far from ideal ha ha… not being able to run from the shore break I got PUNISHED in front of the hundreds of finish line spectators. PS my boat came out without a scratch. THINK QUALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASKR, Norway

Race organiser Karl- Lennard and his team had kindly invited me back after my win the year before, to take part in the second annual ASKR ICF Surfski World Cup. The race is held on the small island of Skipnes in the Vesteralren district of Norway. If you don’t have a map on hand, that’s WAY up north! In fact at 66 degrees latitude, well inside the Arctic Circle! This race has adventure written all over it!

Dawid Mocke, Joep van Bakel and I had made the journey, making sure this race story was far from written before we started. Joep is very quick on the flat and Dawid is very quick on the runs, I had to watch my back the whole way.

The race was a 22km out and back course. I was lucky enough to have some knowledge of the course from the previous year and used it to my advantage to pull away from Joep and then finally Dawid on the small runs we had going back home. Happy with my race and defending my title, I had a grin from ear to ear!

US Surfski Champs:

If there’s one race to tick off on the “dream” race calendar it would be this one. The race is superbly well run and the local paddlers are nonstop AMPED! The course is very technical with big currents, great wind every afternoon and a very busy shipping lane crossing right through the middle of the race course.

Dawid, Barry Lewin and Matt Bouman were the guys to beat. Right from the start gun it was a tight 6km tussle into the wind before turning for a 14km downwind section (into the current). I had made a race plan as to where I wanted to head and was pretty happy that it would work out with what the currents were doing etc. but what I didn’t expect was the 1.5hr delay in the start time of the race. I didn’t adjust my race plan and paid the price. I chose a deep and direct line while Dawid and Matt hugged the bank. Before I could react I was out the back and out the fight. The head current had increased in the 1.5hrs and my route I planned to take was straight into it.

I just couldn’t recover the ground I had lost and I finished up 3rd with another big lesson learnt the hard way!

Chicago Shoreline Marathon, USA:

Tim and Kirsten Flentye really put on a fantastic event. The race is unique because it’s the only major Surfski race which is on a LAKE! Yes that’s right! When you do paddle on Lake Michigan it tends to feel more like the sea than a lake. It stretches 500km in length and can kick up some awesome runs. This year unfortunately our wind did not come through so we were faced with a 25km out and back course with a beach stop along the way. Barry Lewin, Dawid Mocke and I were out to try hold off local country men Greg Barton and Philippe Boccara.

The first 12km was more of a tactical race with everyone on the same bunch trying to do as little work as possible but the closer we got to the turn can and beach stop the more the pace picked up. At the beach stop Dawid got away from us and I was not quick enough to get back at him. The last 10km was super tough with Dawid and I within 50m of each other the whole way. At the end Dawid was the better paddler and I had to settle for 2nd.

I learnt again no matter how long or short a race just one split second decision can make or break your chances of a win.

Nelo Summer Challenge, Portugal:

Porto, Portugal is the host to the Nelo Summer Challenge. This race is the “Rock Star” event of the Surfski calendar. It’s just 1 week after World Flat Water Sprint Champs and attracts a bunch of the top dogs of just about every paddling discipline in Europe and internationally. Walking around race headquarters during the days before the race, you can’t help yourself but feel somewhat ‘star struck’. Olympic ring tattoos almost become the norm ha ha….

Surfski is still growing in Europe and the idea of the race is about getting as many paddlers from other disciplines onto Surfskis as possible, so the race course was set to be a 12km downwind sprint! I normally have a very good start in a Surfski but man was I out classed by those sprint guys! I reached the hot spot well out of the top 20. A shell shock to the system but soon enough we were into the runs and I caught back up to the lead guys. Even though I ended up 4th I felt I had a fantastic race beating a few much more seasoned paddlers than myself. When a race is so short you can’t miss 1 run, you have to be on your toes right from the start.

Hong Kong Dragon Run:

Hong Kong is not a place you expect to find a Surfski Race and never mind one of the biggest races that attracts over 150 international paddlers every year. The starting list was thick with big names from Australia, Europe and South Africa. Hong Kong has a 9hr time difference to us back in South Africa. That pretty much equals major jet lag and it really is an art to try and overcome it. I still need to perfect that art!

When race day loomed, I felt okay even with the lack of sleep but my nerves were through the roof! I normally manage to tuck them away but those butterflies in my stomach weren’t having it this time! The start horn couldn’t have come soon enough. I had a fantastic start getting out to the front; everyone was so close together for the first 6km of cross side runs that we could have spoken to each other most of the way.

This race was to be a battle of wits and determination. Tim Jacobs schooled us all on these things and cruised ahead of one of the most hotly contested Surfski fields ever seen! I finished a disappointing 8th. There was just 2 minutes between the top 10 paddlers and that was after 25km of paddling. The racing level at the international races is forever increasing and a great indicator of a flourishing sport.

Cape Point Challenge, South Africa:

Not all smooth sailing- round 2. After a tough Dragon Run I came home with the biggest local race of the year just 3 weeks away. The Cape Point Challenge is an iconic 46km race around the South Western most tip of Africa. This piece of ocean was not called the “Cape Of Storms” by the first Dutch settlers for no reason; this race is as much of a challenge, physically and mentally, for the top guys as it is for every single one of its competitors! You have to be on the top of your game to win this one.

I was feeling confident after my previous years win and everything was on track, but exactly 9 days before the race the waves were cooking on a perfect summer’s day and the urge to surf was just too much to put off. Shortly after getting in the water one of my friends managed to peg the nose of her board into the back of my head. A complete freak accident but none the less I was soon enough on the phone AGAIN with coach Pete, my Girlfriend Emily and my physiotherapist explaining that I was in a neck brace with concussion, severe whiplash and 5 stitches. NOT IDEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The doctor said Cape Point was game over but I decided to just see how I felt closer to the time. After a week of recovery the swelling had gone down enough and I managed to get in a 30min cruise. I was determined to get back in the boat in time for the race. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches I guess.

Race day came and I was just happy to be on the start line. I raced within myself as not to hurt my neck any more than it was and finished in 4th. I was happy with my result considering the circumstances but that still couldn’t stop my thoughts of what could have been. Hank had a fantastic race winning with Jasper Mocke in 2nd and Dawid Mocke in 3rd. That accident was a real eye opener for me and gave me a huge fright.

All in all 2011 was another very successful year for me but as any sportsman will tell you, to do your best and beat the best you need to train with the right people and have the BEST equipment.

Thank you Think Kayaks and Orka Paddles for helping me live my dream!

BRING ON 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Tim Flentye, Greg Labuscagne Photography and ASKR for the pics!

You hear stories from your friends of amazing sunrises, of catching runs, of getting fit. The lure of glistening harbours, shimmering lakes and the open ocean is calling you to try the wonderful sport of paddling. So where do you start? First up, you obviously need to get on a ski, and one which will allow you to experience the best sport on the planet, in both a fun and safe environment. Our latest creation, the Eze, is just that craft. Through the whole design process, having fun paddling was at the forefront of our thoughts. With any new sport, there will always be a period of frustration getting used to both new equipment and new techniques. We wanted to create a ski which allowed you to quickly find your water legs and confidently progress as a paddler.

Traditionally, the big brands have all had skis which many paddlers were introduced to paddling on. A short while ago, one of our competitors, Epic introduced the V8. This redefined the class, offering more stability than previous models, and its shorted length made it easier to handle. We could see that a lot of the intentions of this craft made sense but as always, we believed we could design something in the “Think Tank” which was better.

Stability is key to the success of the Eze, but equally, we don’t believe that you have to paddle a bath tub feel solid on the water. The Eze shares the sleek lines of its brothers in the Think range, the Evo II and the Uno Max. It is characterised by a sharp bow, giving the feeling of a fast racing machine, with more than sufficient volume to enjoy fun downwind conditions. One of the first things you will notice when compared to its competitor is how much easier it is to carry, it is simply not as bulky and wide, which makes it more accessible to women and children. Straight away you have a craft which the whole family can enjoy. Another direct comparison is that in glass constructions, the Eze is a full 2kgs lighter than the V8, making it easier to paddle, easier to lift on and off the car… in fact everything about the boat is Eze.

The Eze shares all the features and fittings you have become accustomed to with Think Kayak, such as leash anchor point, carry handles, weed deflector, adjustable foot rest, Q-Power spectra lines and closable venturi. Constructed in exactly the same way as all the other skis in our range, all Ezes feature internal Kevlar seams and stringers and are manufactured to the highest composite standards, using vacuum bagging techniques to produce light and rigid skis.

We have had a demo Eze in Sydney since November, and the feed back has been excellent. It has not only met our expectations, but far exceeded them. A new blog which started last year, called Sydney Surf Ski posted a very telling review of the Eze, and it’s worth a read if this craft is on your wish list. Read it here.

At this stage, Think has introduced 6 different designs to the market here in Australia. When we introduced the Eze, we knew we had a very good product, but how good, we couldn’t quantify. That has been answered in the extremely strong sales of the design, which have been amazing. The exciting things for us that it provides us the opportunity to introduce lots of new people to the sport we love so much, and to see smiles on people’s faces, who previously thought surf ski paddling may be beyond them, has been very rewarding and a lot of fun. Just what paddling should be.

We have demo skis available here in Sydney, as well as Perth, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Melbourne. If you would like to try the Eze, please do not hesitate to ask and we can direct you to your local dealer.

Until next time, have fun out there on the water,

Stewart.

Located about 15 kilometers from the Sydney CBD is Little Bay. A small coastal village, just south of Maroubra, it has seen extensive development over the past few years with lots of new housing, and is home to some fantastic golf courses. And it’s at one of these courses that our adventure begins. The Coast Gold Club enjoys terrific ocean views of the cliffs and ocean from the South side of Sydney. Parking at Little Bay church, and quick dash across the 9th fairway and down to the small beach within the bay can often be a challenge with strong southerly winds whipping through. Once down on the beach, a small paddle out through the reef and the exposed ocean awaits the intrepid paddler. Conditions dictate how far out to paddle to ensure you have a clear line of Malabar Point. A South East wind will require a 2km paddle straight out, a South West wind means a shorter paddle of about 1km is required. Once out, you pick the point at North Bondi and head north to the famous Bondi Beach, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The paddle takes in the well know beaches of Maroubra, Coogee, Bronte and Tamarama before you arrive at Bondi after a solid 10km of downwind paddling. Bondi is South facing, so care needs to be taken landing on the beach, and is best done right along the rocks at the North end where a rip runs out and the break is normally very small.

When conditions are on, this course is second to none. A deep line out to sea will reward the paddler with clean runs, clear of any rebound from the many cliffs which line the course on their left as they head North. Winter sees lots of Southerly action in Sydney so most weekends from June until October allow for some fantastic paddling, before the more predominate North East winds of Summer kick in. Unfortunately Sydney hasn’t had a great Summer this year, but that has meant that some great conditions have presented themselves a lot earlier than expected. The past two days in fact have been sensational. Here are the Garmin files to my last two runs.

The first file is a standard course Little Bay to Bondi. The 10km course took 37 mins 30 seconds (with a small paddle back into the beach). The second file shows a longer course, where we paddled past Bondi and onto South Head, landing at Camp Cove. The 10km from Little Bay to Bondi in this file took 35 mins. Conditions were simply awesome. As a side note, my ski of choice both days was the Uno Max Elite.

Little Bay to Bondi, Tuesday 6th March 2012

Little Bay to Camp Cove, Wednesday 7th March 2012

Here’s a video of the run, done last year. Conditions were great this day, lots of runs to be had and some serious smiles afterwards. This paddle actually recruited some new members into our group, ex spec ski paddlers looking for a new challenge, and who fell in love with what downwind had to offer.

Little Bay

So with the evidence provided, can I lay claim to naming the Sydney Millers Run? I would like to think so. Now to recharge the batteries for the next day conditions line up.

See you on the water,

Stew.

Evo Performance (15Kg Glass) – $1990 SORRY SOLD

Evo Elite (12kg Kevlar) – $2990 SOLD TOO

Legend Elite (12kg Kevlar) – $3490

Uno Performance (15kg Glass) – $1990 SOLD

Uno Ultimate (10kg Carbon) – $3990

All boats are in stock in our Sydney warehouse, and ready for immediate delivery. We also have our new boat bags in stock, a great addition to your new craft for just $190 (normal price of $290). Read more about our skis here.

Drop us a line to arrange a test paddle of the best surf skis on the market.

Stewart O’Regan
stewart@thinkkayak.com.au

Cloudy skies and a stiff NW breeze welcomed the participants to the very 1st MyKayakCoach technique & runners clinic for Western Australia, held at the Mandurah Ocean Paddlers Club on the beach & fabulous waterways of Mandurah.
The turnout included a good mix of paddlers & experience. From the very limited all the way to very experienced K1 competitors – add couple of young guns to the mix and we have a great group ready for Jimmy to past on his vast experience and knowledge.
Jimmy is the brains behind the hugely successful mykayakcoach.com – he is an experienced paddler who has raced at the highest level in surf ski and kayak events, reaching an Olympic final along the way and since retiring has become a very successful coach.
Introductions done, Jimmy thoroughly went through the fundamentals of the kayak stroke – seat position, hand position on the shaft & its dynamics, leg drive, torso rotation, hand height, the catch, pull & exit. All presented in an easy and understandable language – a real “start from scratch” approach.We were then given the task of activating our torso correctly by practicing a good individual warm-up drill then pairing up and using our paddles – quite a few participants definitely noticed the feeling of actually using their abdominal muscles for a change.

Time to hit the water. Paddling up the sheltered Mandurah Estuary, Jimmy went through a thorough list of drills all paddlers should try to include into their weekly training plan, and then decided to show us how to stand up in his ski – a Think UNO max. Yes it was captured on film, but unfortunately due to “user error” the footage is a wee bit off – by 180 deg!! So then it was challenge time with a few of us attempting the same, but with very different results.

After a solid session on the flat it was time to recharge and break for lunch, with a few paddlers already noticing the effects on the body after paddling with the correct technique.

Runners time. The skies had cleared and with the wind slightly increasing, the paddlers were presented with perfect onshore conditions – just want we needed for learning the basics of catching runners. After a beach introduction into the method of catching and maintaining speed on the runners the young guns shot off leaving the rest to wallow in what some of us said were “testing conditions”. Capsizes a plenty, collisions and smiles were had by all, with Jimmy chasing us down on the runners shouting out his words of wisdom. Hearts “a-pounding”, arms “helicoptering” and it wasn’t long before a few of the group began retreating to the beach feeling a wee bit fatigued from the solid session they had just experienced. A big lesson learned today from some included the reconsidering of their current boat situation due to the low level of “comfort factor” and inability to sustain power in their technique whilst paddling in the choppy ocean. A factor many paddlers out there today should also consider. Session over, it was time to wash down, reflect and enjoy some of Jimmy’s extensive training advice.
The technique & runners clinic proved to be a hit, with a great response from all that participated. From Think Kayak and Jim Walker at mykayakcoach.com a big thank you to all that supported the day. Jim and I had a great time and we look forward to arranging the next mykayakcoach.com session in Perth soon.

Remember those drills & happy paddling!!

Cheers

Adam Fahey

The first, and probably most important thing to consider when purchasing a new PFD is comfort. It’s simple, if your choice of PFD isn’t comfortable, you are not going to wear it, so spend some time trying on as many jackets as possible, and even better, try paddle in some. When we designed our PFD, in conjunction with Hiko, comfort was a huge priority. We believe we have achieved that with huge cutaways around the shoulders and neck enabling full rotation without restriction. Our PFDs are adjustable both at the shoulders and sides, ensuring you can get a very good, custom fit. These features should be high on your list when looking for a new PFD. Once you have made your choice, it’s important to train in your PFD as much as possible, only then will you become accustomed to the different heat stress your body will be under, as well as adjusting your clothing requirements accordingly. All PFDs, no matter the claims of the manufacturer, will raise your body temperature. With this is mind, you need to consider your fluid intake, particularly in hot climates like we have here in Australia. If, for example, you normally consume 800mls of fluid during a 90 minute session, it is worth playing with an increase to perhaps 1 liter or more to account for that increase in body heat. This can be assessed and adjusted during training in the weeks and months coming up to a big race. With the increase in body temperature, the requirement for clothing is reduced. If it’s the type of day where you might normally just wear a long sleeve paddling top on its own, when wearing a PFD, you may choose a short sleeve instead, to help keep your temperature down. We’re fortunate enough to live in a country with a fantastic climate for the most part, but with that comes extra considerations, such as heat exposure and hydration. With both of those in mind, the best way to get used to racing in a PFD is to train in a PFD. You hear many coaches preach that you should train how you want to race. If you want to be the best, you need to train like the best, and that means hard. You can be assured that the best paddlers are always prepared, perfect preparation makes perfect. We all want a reward for the training hours we put in, and the last thing you want to do it train your heart out, then show up at a race and paddle in a PFD for the first time since the last race and cook yourself. By training with your PFD, and being prepared, you can avoid the pitfalls of over heating and dehydration as a result of the extra layers around your torso.

The important things to consider when racing in PFDs:
- Choose a PFD that is most comfortable for you
- Wear your PFD in training
- Know how wearing a PFD affects your hydration levels
- Choose your clothing considering the extra heat wearing a PFD will generate

Your ski is ready, paddle checked, drink bottles mixed and paddling gear packed, the hard work is done, now it’s time to race. Have a blast.

See you on the water,

Stew.

As a not-for-profit event, the objectives of the Royal Challenge are to raise money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and inspire people to invest in a healthy lifestyle while helping to raise charitable funds.

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/event/royal_challenge11

Dean Simpson, who is a Cronulla local and owner of Infront Surfcraft, raced an Uno Elite in the Royal Challenge. Here are his thoughts on the craft, and how it helped him achieve a podium spot on the day, crossing the line in second place.

“I recently competed in a Ski run Ski race and used an ocean ski for the first time.I knew I would need a fast and comfortable Ski, which the Uno model is. The Uno made the transition from ski to ocean Ski effortless. I found the Uno very streamlined in the water, and easy to reach and maintain top speed all while allowing me to sit comfortably with no pins and needles in my legs which has been a concern in long races. Because of this I paddled above my ability on race day leading to a suprising result.

Cheers

Dean”

You can check out Dean’s website here.

Getting to Hong Kong on Thursday night it didn’t give me much time to look around. Went to one of the paddler’s favourite cafés called the Pacific Coffee Company, which had food, coffee and internet. What more do you need? Had a shop down at the Stanley market that basically has all the clothes and knick-knacks you would want all for a “good price for you”.

With the Dubai race being cancelled the Dragon run looked to have one of the strongest international fields this year with many quality paddlers arriving from Australia and South Africa. With guys like Shannon Eckstein, Jeremy Cotter, Cory Hill, the Mocke brothers and Sean Rice I knew getting top ten would be no easy feat.

The report on wind guru going into the race wasn’t promising with a max of 6 knots coming from the northeast, which didn’t look quite like the Dragon run I had experienced a year earlier with large swell and runs. I paddled the Think Uno Elite, which is my preferred Think ski at this time.

Bill and the guys from the Sea School always run an efficient and professional race. The race briefing is on the Friday night with race packs, sponsor logos and a feed of pizza, pasta and salad. On the morning of the race, boats are loaded onto trucks and competitors onto buses. We are then driven to the start line approximately 2 hours before race start. The bus trip is really good with competitors allowed to talk ham, contemplate bus crashes or think about the pain they are going to endure on the 23.5km course back to Stanly Sea School.

The race start was delayed almost an hour with race directors looking to milk as much of the light Northerly wind as they could. The race started from Clearwater Bay Beach at 11am with a couple of the top guys missing the start as the gun went basically straight after the 5min warning. I was fortunate enough to be already on the line and got a cracker start next to Sean Rice and got in a good V-wash in the pack out to Steep Island (which is 3km from the start), where the pack began to split.

While heading to Ninepins (7km out) the backwash off the Islands started to mix up the pack and the wash pack quickly diminished. After turning from 9 Pins Tom, Jasper and Jeremy took the outer line. They were chasing the small 1ft runners over the right shoulder pushing them out to sea. Tim, Hank and Dawid took a straighter line course to the “Kissing Whales” (which is 18km into the race and turning point into Stanley beach and the finish) with Ben, Sean and Shannon taking the inner line.

I turned 9 pins in about 10^th with Cory Hill, David Rhodes and Grant hot on my heels. Cory slowly passed and went away from me on the same line as Tim (but obviously a bit further back) but I was able to hold off the other two and catch up to Jeremy and pass Sean down the 11km downwind stretch.

Coming into the last 5km was 9^th and in this section all runners diminished and it was time to grind away. I looked forward and everyone was extremely close. I tried to work with Jeremy to keep Sean at bay and tried to catch Ben but their flat water prowess showed in the conditions. Sean passed and dropped me with about 1km to go from the finish. Jeremy, who I train with at home, took a little tactical line on the inside in fear that Jody Zerbst from back home would pay him out for me getting one up on him (it was a bit of a laugh after the race). I was able to pass Shannon who was clearly cramping and hurting toward the end of the race after having to work extra hard at the start after missing the gun.

I was extremely happy with tenth place, being so close to a lot of guys that I had never really thought I could be competitive with. The race lived up to my expectations with 4^th to 10^th within 1min of each other. Next time I get to race such a field hopefully I will be more within the mix rather than toward the back of the top paddlers.

The race as I said before always runs smoothly with a couple of kids from the sea school picking up our boats and carrying them back up to the racks. There is a post race feed and drinks that leads onto the presentation and into Central Hong Kong at Wagyu. Unfortunately couldn’t make it to that this year as it was my Girlfriends 21^st the next day. But needless to say I experienced enough of Hong Kong the year before!

I’ve been to the Dragon Run twice now and will hopefully be able to make it back next year. I am thrilled to have met Bruce, Daryl and Stewart from Think with their professionalism and support allowing the trip to go smoothly.

Michael Booth

At Think Kayak, we listened to what customers were saying about craft on the market when we created our first ocean ski, the Evo. Lots of paddlers kept coming back to the theme of comfort. With that in mind, we set about creating the most comfortable seat and foot well arrangement we could. In many cases, ski designs revolve around a creating a quick hull, and then making everything fit into that. We took a different approach. We created an ergonomically efficient seating position, and created a high performing hull around it. The seat height is set higher than the ankle height, which puts the paddler in a more powerful position in their seat, setting them up for a strong catch. The theory was that by putting the focus back on the paddler, by providing them with a stable and powerful position from which to work, they would excel. And that is what happened. The Evo exceeded our expectations, providing both speed and stability, and has proved to be a fantastic ski in all conditions.

Another important factor in our seat design is the shape of the bucket. By positioning the seat higher than the ankles, we were able to create a seat that wasn’t too round at the bottom, and therefore wouldn’t impinge on the sciatic nerves, the main cause of dead legs and numbness in paddlers.

The last thing to consider, when dealing with an efficient seating position, is setting the leg length on your foot plate. Setting too long will mean little power being applied through leg drive, too short will mean proper rotation is restricted. This will also have an effect on the position of the glutes in the seat, and possible pressure being applied to the sciatic nerves. Our adjustable system, while being quick and efficient, also allows for micro adjustments, which means you can set the leg length that is ideal for you, down to the nearest millimetre.
Such was the success of the Evo’s seat and foot well, that we took it complete, and popped it into our next development, the Legend. And yes, we did it again with the Uno, our elite level ski. Throughout the development of our range, we have never strayed from the focus on the paddler. To perform, the athlete has to be comfortable, and that has always been in our minds as we designed new craft.

So when you are choosing a new craft, ensure that the seat and foot well offer you a few key features:

- Ergonomic paddling position which allows you to apply maximum power

- Comfortable bucket that suits your body

- Adjustable foot plate

Think Kayak Thermals

In May, we had a really bad cold snap in Sydney. It was sharp reminder to stock up on paddling thermals for Winter, and be prepared for the worst Mother Nature could direct at us. I shopped around for some new gear, but all I could find was overpriced, badly fitting products. So I decided now was as good a time as any to add paddling thermals to the Think Kayak range. I sought out the best manufacturers in the world, and after trying many samples, was blown away by one product, called Micro Light, made by Progress Sportswear.

Micro Light is a collection of versatile under garments for athletes. Manufactured from soft polypropylene microfiber, it wicks sweat away from the skin quickly, due to its non-absorbability and well maintained physical microclimate. The ribbed knit structure provides optimum flexibility and improved insulation properties. The paddling tops are characterised by flat seams and perfect cuts.

One very noticeable and pleasing aspect of the Micro Light products was how quickly they shed water when hit by a wave, or a big side chop. The water leaves the fabric almost immediately, meaning you don’t have a cold fabric against your skin for any period of time, very important in cold conditions. I have also washed mine repeatedly, and still no balls or distortion in the fabric. The nature of the microfiber also means that no nasty smells remain in the clothing, a very common feature amongst other thermals.

The new thermals are in stock now. Available in short and long sleeve, and sizes S,M,L,XL. All thermals are white in colour.

Pricing:
Short Sleeve Micro Light – $39
Long Sleeve Micro Light – $44

We will be adding more paddling clothing to the range over the coming months, so do drop back to keep up to date, or watch out for news on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as our regular e-mail newsletters.

So when the call went out that we had arranged a technique session, response was huge. Paddlers came from all directions to St George Kayak Club on the Cooks River in Sydney. The focus of the session was flat water technique, and the paddlers were run through a series of land drills and water drills to help improve their paddling. Upon arrival, every participant received a t-shit with the line “I’ve been drilled by My Kayak Coach”, and drilled they were, everyone gaining lots of new techniques to help with strong catch, good rotation and solid leg drive. Once the land session was completed, 35 excited paddlers jumped on the water to apply what they had learned. Many paddlers commented how effective the drills were, with a few saying that their sore abs were a good sign that they were now paddling correctly with their body, rather than just using their arms.

The three hour session concluded with Australia Sports Nutrition presenting some of their range of performance and recovery products.

Our customers are important to us, and as a small way of saying thank you for choosing a Fit, Evo, Legend or Uno as their ski of choice, we provide the session free of charge to all Think Kayak paddlers.

Looking forward to the next session, brought to you by My Kayak Coach and Think Kayak.

Now I’m off to work on some drills.

Stewart.

One of the great attractions of owning a surf ski is that it can be paddled in all sorts of conditions, and water types. From surfing down huge ocean swells, to paddling on a flat lake, a surf ski handles it all. However, different rudder shapes are sometimes not ideal for various conditions, and with that in mind, Think Kayak have an extensive range of fins, to suit every condition. Here’s a run through what we can offer you.

• #1 This fin has been designed for flat or shallow water conditions. It is a favourite amongst river paddlers, where weed is an issue, and multi sport racers, where shallow rivers can pose a threat to longer fins, sometimes breaking them off. It has a 3inch depth

• #2 A fin designed to perform on flat water, where a little more steering is required, such as a harbour or river race, requiring more steering inputs to remain on the optimum position on the wash of competitors. The rake also works well in weedy conditions. It has a 5inch depth.

• #3 The 7inch fin is targeted more at ocean conditions. It is the preference of athletes who prefer a more neutral feel to their steering, rather than the very reactive feel the larger, more elliptical fins offer. It is also the rudder of choice for races in weedy oceans, with the rake ensuring weed won’t put a stop to you achieving a good result.

• #4 The 9inch elliptical fin is a favourite amongst the downwind addicts. It offers very responsive, and accurate steering, allowing for quick changes of direction when chasing from run to run.

• #5 The 10inch is our “Big Berta”, designed to work in the most extreme downwind conditions, when you need maximum steering capabilities in the toughest of conditions.

• #6 is our original “Surf Fin”, offering a nice neutral feel, similar to the 7inch fin, but with a little more surface area for those requiring a bigger fin face.

• #7 was our very first rudder fin. Intended as a one size fits all, the more we learned about the various conditons our skis were being used, and what athletes demanded of our craft, the more we were aware that we needed to expand our range to cater for varying conditions, and indeed the athletes themselves.

All of our skis come with a 7inch or 9inch fin of your choice, as standard. Any of the other fins can be supplied upon request. If you require any further information on our rudder fins, just drop an e-mail to info@thinkkayak.com.au and we will get back to you quickly with an answer to your queries.

Stewart O’Regan

Think Kayak Australia

Stewart O’Regan (SOR): I’ve had some people want to know about different aspects of your training and equipment, so here are some quick questions:

SOR: Do you prefer one long (say 2 hour) training session per day or split between a morning and arvo session?

SR: Definitely splitting it up! It makes doing that 2hrs of paddling a day so much easier and you can split it up between a 10-15km grind in the morning and intervals in the evening. Some of the guys here will paddle on the flat/gym before work and then hop on the sea for a session in the afternoon.

SOR:What cross training does you do?

Sean Rice (SR):I’m racing so often I don’t find much time to cross train but I do enjoy trail running. I’m a heavy guy at the best of times so it’s the quickest and easiest way for me to drop some of that extra luggage ha ha

SOR: It has been commented that you seem to prefer racing the Uno to the Uno Max.

SR: I don’t so much ‘prefer’ it. I’ve spent a good amount of time in the Max and have enjoyed it just as much as the Uno. I train in the Uno more often so it just makes sense to sometime stick with what you are used to and not mix things up to much. I’m looking forward to racing the Max again this year.

SOR: Do you do any technique sessions weekly?

SR: I don’t do too much technique focus in my ski. Technique is very very important but I prefer to just make sure I have a comfortable stroke and if for some reason my shoulders/fore arms etc do start to take strain then I’ll look at where I’m going wrong and correct it.

SOR: How do you structure your training around paddling on the flat water and out in the swells?

SR: 80% flat 20% swell training. I’m very fortunate to have a coach Peter Cole (Orka Training) who has a very enthusiastic and competitive squad paddling his sessions every day. I do hard quality sessions with the flat water guys and my longer paddles on the sea doing down winds etc.

SOR: Do you prefer to do most of your hard sessions without assistance and then only do a couple of sessions a week in the swell?

SR: Nearly all of my HARD training is done on the flat. With paddling on the flat there is no where to hide!

SOR: Do you use the same paddle size for flat races and big swells?

SR: I paddle with the same blades Orka Super Flex but I will paddle with a slightly longer paddle length on flatter conditions. I range between 210cm for down wind and 213cm for flatter stuff. I really enjoy the Orka Super Flex. I’ve been racing with them for over 3 years now and they’ve shown great results.

SOR: Can you share your garmin file from the EuroChallenge with us?

SR: Flip I wish I could but I’m not sure if I have it anymore. I don’t really use that function much to be honest ha ha… It would be like replaying the pain over and over again ha ha

So there is a brief rundown on how this champion paddler approaches his training. Hopefully it can give you some insight on what works for an elite racer, and maybe apply some of those principles to your own training program.

You can check out Sean’s paddle sponsor, Orka Paddles.

See you on the water,

Stew O’Regan.

Think Kayak Australia.

It’s early 2009, and Think Kayak have been busy working on their first truly elite level ski, the Uno.

Step forward two years from his first overseas trip, and Sean returned to Spain, this time crossing the line in first place, and starting the 2011 season where he left off in 2010. I had the chance to interview Sean during the week after his big win, here’s what he had to say.

Stewart O’Regan (SOR):    First up Sean, a huge congratulations on behalf of Think Kayak Australia on your win in Spain, we were glued to the live feed during the race.

SOR : You’ve made the trip to Spain three times now, going from 3^rd spot, to second, and now 1^st, how does it feel to look back over those two years and see your progress?

Sean Rice (SR): Flip it’s been an unbelievable journey over the past 3 years. To finally get this win in the bag is very special for me and a sign that all that hard work and commitment that I had put in trying to get here was very much worth it!

SOR : How was this year’s trip, did everything go smoothly with flights and equipment and the like?

SR: Out of all the races on the tour this must definitely top them all off as being one of the most ‘chilled out’ races.  I don’t mean the actual race by any means, but rather the atmosphere around the actual race day. It’s hard not to forget you are there to do a serious job! Ha ha. Paola the Think Kayak agent in Spain sorts me out with everything I might need when I’m there. I’ve always got the best boat just waiting for me to paddle and they offer any help I should ever need. That kind of support before a big race is very valuable to me. I’m also now pretty familiar with the race course and conditions which makes adjust a little easier.

SOR: There were some good characters at this year’s race, any funny stories or antics happening over there?

SR: What happens on tour stays on tour ha ha…… no seriously! We have good fun joking around and playing the fool. It’s the easiest way to get your mind off the race for a while. Most of the guys racing these races have travelled together many times before and we all get along very well. Going anywhere with those guys is bound to be an eventful experience!

SOR :  How did it feel lining up against the likes of Tim Jacobs, Dawid Mocke, Hank McGregor, Jasper Mocke in Spain? Do you still get nervous?

SR: Of course I do. Getting nervous before any race is a good thing in a way. It gets you excited and gives you energy. Trying to use that nervous energy to your advantage on the other hand is MUCH easier said then done!

SOR : How did this year’s race unfold for you?

SR: I had trained longer and harder for this year’s race. I had put in all the hard work and I knew I was strong enough to race from the front, but I also knew that no matter how fit I was anything could happen.  Just the weekend before Euro Challenge I was doing a big ski race back home. Right at the start during the Le Mans start my rudder hit another boat and bent before I was even in the water!!! BANG race over thanks for coming! And I hadn’t even got to the water yet ha ha. For Euro Challenge I had a race plan and stuck to it which obviously paid off. I’m very happy with my race and felt strong the whole way through.

SOR: You obviously felt strong, taking out the hot spots?

SR: I had originally not planned to go for any of them. I was worried about spending valuable energy too soon, but with the first hot spot in sight I challenged for it and managed to hold off Dawid to take it by 3m.  I also just managed to pip the leading double for the second hotspot. To take hotspots during a race is a massive confidence booster and definitely ads an interesting spin to any race.

SOR: Do you think the Uno gives you an advantage in taking the hot spots out?

SR: It sure does! Not many boats that I’ve ever paddled before have come close to the ‘off the mark’ speed of the Uno.

SOR: Lots of people know Dawid from the scene, as a champion of the sport, and I believe he has been a big influence on your career. How does it feel when you get one over someone you’ve looked up to for so long?

SR: ha ha yeah it’s GREAT!

SOR:  It must be good for you to have such good friends as Dawid and Jasper at these events, does it make travelling the world easier and more enjoyable, sharing it with the Cape Town boys?

SR: It’s makes it much easier not only for the travelling but also to just have guys you already know to train with when we’re over there.

SOR:  So 2011 has started with a bang, what are your plans for the rest of the season?

SR: RACE RACE RACE!!!!!!! This year is going to be busy! Durban World Cup, US Surfski Champs, Chicago Shoreline Marathon, Nelo Summer Challenge, Race Of Champions, Hong Kong, Dubai, Cape Point Challenge and those are just the ones off the top of my head.

SOR: You’ve shown some very raw speed, and speed endurance in your racing. Have you been tempted to try convert that over to kayaks at some point, perhaps sprint racing?

SR: I actually originally learnt to paddle in a kayak when I was 12. I never really took it too seriously in the beginning and just did our usual flat water and river marathons. In Cape Town usually half our year is spent racing kayaks (winter) and the other half in the ski (summer). With racing on the international circuit now I spend most of my year in the ski training against the kayaks. Spending time in a kayak definitely can do a lot for increasing your speed and many ski paddlers do switch over regularly during the year.

SOR: Thanks for your time today, Sean, and the very best of luck for the rest of 2011.

SR: Thanks Stew. Check out my FaceBook page SEAN RICE RACING to keep up to date with what I’m up to. See you on the water.

*Slider image: Hywell Waters

Wow, what a blast the past 12 months has been.

As mentioned above, a lot of work has gone into Think Kayak, but we couldn’t have done it all without one import person…. you, our customers. Thank you all so much for your continued support of our brand, through buying our products, to calling up and making suggestions, to being a friendly face at a race. We are what we are thanks to each and every one of you, and for that, we promise to do our very best to continue to serve you and back you, and you have done us.

There are lots of new and exciting things in the pipeline for the remainder of 2011, and into 2012, so make sure to check back, or follow us on Facebook, to keep in the loop with all things Think Kayak.

See you on the water,

Stewart O’Regan

Think Kayak Australia
Mob:     0404 236 638
Web:     www.thinkkayak.com.au
Skype:  stewieor

If you are new to motor sport, you don’t rush out an buy a brand new V8 Supercar. Ideally you will look at buying a cart, and learn the basics of driving. Without having a solid foundation in driving skills you will never master the faster cars up the range. So why should a sport like ski paddling be any different? Well, in reality, it isn’t, yet everyday you will see guys paddling skis which are beyond their current skill set. Friends advise them that is they spend lots of time paddling, they will master the more advanced ski, that over time it won’t be as tippy. Unfortunately, not getting the right craft to start with will have long term implications on your paddling technique, your stability, your ability to use the ocean to your advantage, and ultimately your enjoyment out on the water.

So how do you go about choosing the right craft that suits YOU? By answering the following questions, you can go a long way to getting on board a ski that will allow you to perform well and improve as a paddler.

- What level are you at?
- Where will you do most of your paddling?
- What are your paddling goals?

Lets look at some possible answers.
What level are you at?
This is the most important aspect when choosing a new craft.
Are you a beginner just starting out in paddling? Have you maybe got some experience in paddling from a fitness squad for example and are making the step into ocean racing? If you answer yes to either of these questions, then it is very important you walk before you can run. A ski which offers lots of primary stability will allow you to learn correct forward paddling technique, while also giving you a solid platform to try your hand in the harbour or ocean. At this stage, you need to be nice and stable and not have to worry about falling off. If you’re stable you will start to learn the feel of the ocean, how runs feel as they come under your ski, how side chop effects the run of your craft and how to use the ocean to your advantage. This is the stage in your paddling where you will set the foundations to build a successful career upon. Use the time wisely and efficiently and you will set yourself up for many happy years of paddling ahead.

The next stage is what we term intermediate, and I believe, the hardest one in which to choose a craft. Paddling at this stage, you will have built a good foundation in paddling technique and will have a reasonable feel for the ocean. What is really important in this stage is not to make the jump to a more unstable craft too early. If I can use the example of a racing car again, you decide to move to a faster car when you really can master your cart, not when you have improved a lot, but are still hanging on for dear life on a race track. You should have 100% confidence in your equipment and support strokes are a thing of the past. By getting out regularly in messy side chop and down wind runners you feel totally comfortable, then you are ready to make the step up.

Advanced and elite paddlers are you guys with a very solid forward paddling stroke and who have little to no stability issues in almost any conditions. You will have built up a great foundation over the years and by getting onto an elite level ski, you can perform to your optimal level.

Where will you do most of your paddling?
The great thing about surf skis is that they can be used in a variety of places and conditions. When you are looking for a new ski, it is good to ask yourself where you will do most of your paddling. If it’s in the flat water, with the occasional trip to the ocean, then you may be able to handle a tipper ski, but bear in mind that it might be more of a challenge in the ocean. Also worth considering, do you drive to your favourite stretch of water? If so, a lighter ski may appeal, as lifting skis on and off roof racks can be hard work. The important thing to remember is that you need to match you skill set with the stretch of water you will do all your paddling on.

A very important aspect of where you paddle is how safe the craft you choose is. If you are paddling in the ocean, chasing runs, battling rebound chop from cliffs and the like, you need confidence in your ski that it won’t let you down. As the sport grows, more and more attention is being paid to the safety aspect of craft and also paddlers wearing PFDs. Most race organisers now insist you wear a leg leash, and anchoring it to your ski is very important. Your ski should have strong internal stringers which support the structure, as well as providing rigidity to the craft. While we all crave high performance, don’t let it be at a cost to your safety and well being.

What are your paddling goals?
For most of us, going to the Olympics or World Championships isn’t on our agendas. We paddle because we love it, we enjoy the outdoors, the fitness levels we gain and the fun we have out on the water with our friends. But it is still important to have goals. To beat your best mate at a local time trial, to finish a big high profile race, to improve your 10km PB as examples. With your goals in mind, you can make your choice of ski also. For many beginner paddlers who quickly progress to intermediate status, why would you reduce the enjoyment factor by getting on a ski which is too much of a challenge? You may find that you are actually quicker on a more stable craft as you are able to apply more power on each stroke, and not have to worry about falling in. If you local time trial has some challenging conditions, but your best mate has jumped on the latest and greatest ski he has seen an elite paddler on, without having the ability to get the most from that ski, odds are you will beat him on a more stable craft. If you want to smash your 10km time, that will be very hard to do if you are just paddling with your arms because you are on a ski which is too tippy. Being on a suitable craft which you can apply all the power from your torso and big back muscles will pay dividends and in no time you will be reassessing your goals with a new PB logged in your training diary.

For advanced to elite paddlers, most will tend to choose the fastest skis on the market, but having the skill set to get the most from these craft, you will excel.

I hope this article helps you in choosing a new ski. I have specifically refrained from mentioning any brands or models as the sole intention is to help aid in craft selection, and not to confuse or influence paddlers. Being a distributor of skis here in Australia, I speak to many different paddlers every day, each one will be of a different ability. The important thing for me is to match them to a ski on which they will perform to their best ability and the one which they will gain the most enjoyment from. After all, we all paddle for the love of the sport and the enjoyment we get from the best outdoor sport on the planet.

Now go for a paddle…..

Cheers,
Stewart O’Regan
Think Kayak Australia

A few weeks ago, a friend popped by and borrowed my Uno Max for a session. Of course they came back raving about how good the ski was, but that isn’t the subject of this blog. I jumped on the water the next day, and while they had returned the foot plate to my setting, the foot straps were on a looser setting. Putting in at Camp Cove, myself and my paddling buddy headed around the corner to South Head and punched into a hard south easterly wind, our reward would be some lovely downwind conditions. While chit chatting on the paddle out, I didn’t notice the fit of my foot straps too much, but once out the back, my normal stability wasn’t there, I felt terrible on the ski. I couldn’t put my finger on it, until I then noticed how much space was between my foot and the foot strap, and how much my foot had to travel back to get a solid grip on the strap. I had also noticed that my stroke felt a lot shorter than usual, probably due to the fact that I didn’t have my normal stable feeling. This got me thinking about the importance of setting your foot straps and the very positive effects it can have on your paddling.

I come from a kayaking background, where solid pull bars and straps are order of the day in our boats. Pictured below is a K1 footrest, with a solid pull bar across the top.

Proper technique to attain nice boat run in a kayak means that as the stroke side leg straightens out, the recovery side leg bends, while the foot pulls back on the bar or strap. This has two effects. The first is that it keeps the boat on a more level plane, as one leg drives, the other leg pulls, so you don’t get lots of sideways movement of the craft, thereby reducing the amount of lost energy. The second, is that by pulling the recovery side leg forward, you pull the hip forward. This makes rotation easier, leaving the drive leg to push out easier, and setting up the next stroke for a more powerful catch, with the hip in a more forward position. Correct technique dictates that the shoulder and hip follow each other through the forward stroke, ensuring that all effort applied to the paddle is then driven through the seat and foot rest to propel the boat forward.

Here is a video of the current K1 1000mt K1 champion, Tim Brabants from the UK. There is some nice slow mo in the video, where you can see Tim’s hip and shoulder work in harmony as he drives the boat forward with great effect. You will also notice the huge movement in Tim’s legs, he has terrific leg drive. The really important thing to take from the video however, if how his hip pulls forward as his recovery leg comes up. The power of his stroke is more than impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mhpY3jyPys

So how does this apply to ski paddling? Well, you often hear people talk about the ski stroke being shorter, and that the rating is higher than that of kayaking. That may be true when paddling in the ocean, but on flatter days, you can gain a huge amount of power which may be missing from your stroke, by applying the same principals Olympic champions like Tim use. On the rougher days, those same principals will actually make you more stable, and therefore be able to apply more power. By spending a small amount of time getting the positioning of your foot straps correct, you can see big gains in stability, and therefore power application in your paddling. Getting better rotation, a by product of your hips working in synch with the rest of your body, you will activate the larger muscle groups of the back, lats and trunk, reducing the possibility of injury and making you a stronger paddler.

So what is the ideal foot strap position? Everyone’s feet are different sizes, so you need to work that bit out for yourself. The basic set up should focus on a few things:

- You need to be comfortable. Your feet should feel good under your straps, with no pinching or excessive rubbing.
- You need to ensure you are safe. Straps that are too tight can be a hazard in the event of a capsize.
- I suggest using double foot straps on a ski, as they keep your feel in a better position, on both the foot board and the pedals. Personally I find the single foot strap allows too much sideways movement.
- Set the strap so that it allows for maximum pull with minimal backward movement of the foot, while still considering the points above.

Now armed with some tips on foot straps, take the time to look at your own leg drive and power application through the seat and hips when out paddling next. Play with your foot straps to find a nice fit and see if that helps your rotation and stability. And then watch your GPS to see if that then transfers into increased boat speed, or maybe allows you to push down that run you may have missed in the past.

See you on the water…..

Stewart O’Regan
Think Kayak Australia