: I was out last year with two young guys (mid twentys). They had paddled
: recreationally but not much. I assumed they would be fine in my fairly
: fast boats, but after about an hour on the water they were seriously
: tired. They had been battling to keep pace with me and I had to keep
: stopping my leisurely paddle stroke to wait for them.

: By this time comments were being made about being given slow boats so I
: decided to watch more closely to see what they were doing that was
: different to what I was doing.

: After a few minutes I realised that they were digging trenches in the ocean
: in order to maintain my somewhat leisurely pace. There was so much effort
: and force being put into the stroke that they were creating bubbles,
: turbulence and vorteces all over the place.

: I suggested that in order to speed up they should paddle more slowly, with
: less effort, leaving their blades in the water for longer and with a
: little more rotation in the waist. They looked puzzled, but the difference
: was marked and immediate. once they had the feel for that I suggested that
: they concentrate on pushing gently with the top hand as well as pulling
: with the lower hand. They improved even more and I began to wonder if I
: should be giving away trade secrets to cocky youngsters who would now make
: me pay.

: The conclusion.

: A clean grab with a clean release, and a longish stroke inbetween which is
: powered to keep the water attached to the paddle blade with as little
: turbulence as possible is and efficient stroke.

: Etienne

Yep, rotation seems to be one of the hardest lessons to teach. My method of teaching this is to paddle on a fairly narrow body of water, where you can easily see shoreline on both sides of the boat, then have the rotate to the point they are facing each shore at the end of a stroke. Yes it's too much rotation but once they grasp that idea in normal paddling they'll still rotate some. Seems to work for me.

Bill H.