: Hi Roger,

: My wife surpised me a few weeks ago with tickets to the Olympic kayak sprint
: finals (we live in Sydney). Well, we went the other day and I was hoping
: to see at least one wooden boat, but if any were there, they didn't make
: it to the finals :-(

: Damn, those guys were FAST! The medal presentations took way longer than the
: races!

: I thought the canoe sprints were a bit strange, a very odd paddling position
: and they didn't get anywhere near the times that the kayakers got. Maybe
: if they got a decent paddle and sat down they might go faster...*G*

: I did notice that the guys in the canoes only paddled on one side of the
: boat, They didn't have any trouble going in a straight line, how they
: manage this, I have no idea...Maybe something to do with hull shape?

: Overall, the Olympics were a great experience, but I'm kinda glad they're
: over.

: Paul.

Actually, it has little if anything to do with hull shape. It has to do with paddling technique. I have seen some information on the web about this but, at the moment, I don't remember where. There was an article sometime back, I believe in Sea Kayaker magazine, written by a former canoe racer. His contention was that kayakers waste a lot of energy and money on inefficient paddles and paddling technique. At some point in the future, I am tenativly planning to investigate this contention at the local canoe paddling club where there are a several Olympic Level Canoe Racers.

James