Paddling advice for long, flat, skinny boats

[Alan Gage]

They also seemed to help me with hip rotation

This is something I've never really felt like is a thing with canoe paddling. Maybe more so with kayaks but I've never felt the benefit with the canoe stroke nor does it appear most other paddlers use it either from what I can see. But I was never a good racer so maybe that's what was holding me back.

I've had boats with foot straps. I never felt like I utilized them all that much. Perhaps the biggest benefit I felt was edging tender racing boats as the strap on the foot away from the lean gives you a bit of a stabilizing anchor point.

Alan

 

[Tryin']

This is something I've never really felt like is a thing with canoe paddling. Maybe more so with kayaks but I've never felt the benefit with the canoe stroke nor does it appear most other paddlers use it either from what I can see. But I was never a good racer so maybe that's what was holding me back.

I've had boats with foot straps. I never felt like I utilized them all that much. Perhaps the biggest benefit I felt was edging tender racing boats as the strap on the foot away from the lean gives you a bit of a stabilizing anchor point.

Alan

That is good to know. I am taking my very first steps into the race world, and as we know, the first steps are loaded with appeals to authority followed by confirmation bias.

I have been watching the K2N Paddle School channel quite a bit, and he is dogmatic about hip rotation.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeP4q4Z3FQpY44e73GzFWGYGZY97hXYln&si=Znd5xneWi9YFFtsr

 

[zehyani]

i have a similar but sloppier layout. I will take a picture. I think of it as a clip on pedal on a bike. i basically took a strap, put 4 clamps on the footrest and threaded it through. I think i lean on one side or another and if i dont want to use it it is not really in the way.
I'm a terrible racer Alan, but remember someone has to come last. I usually volunteer to take that position.

 

[Alan Gage]

I have been watching the K2N Paddle School channel quite a bit, and he is dogmatic about hip rotation.

I've heard plenty of people say hip rotation is important but when I watch the top paddlers I just can't see them doing it. I can see it coming more into play with a double blade and I found in kayaks that core rotation was important. Never could make it work in canoes though. Serge Corbin is about the best there has ever been and I don't really see any hip rotation.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I've heard plenty of people say hip rotation is important but when I watch the top paddlers I just can't see them doing it. I can see it coming more into play with a double blade and I found in kayaks that core rotation was important. Never could make it work in canoes though. Serge Corbin is about the best there has ever been and I don't really see any hip rotation.

OMG! Little rotation, bent elbows, and no stacked hands - how on earth did he pull away from that double blade team?