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