Saving Yourself for Later

I am constantly amazed at how much people move around in a canoe when paddling and how awkward their posture. Maybe trying a few things while alone might demonstrate the inefficiency of it.

Everyone should try this experiment:

• Sit in your chair at your desk or at home. Start by sitting bolt upright with your shoulders over your hips. Now lean forward from the waist to about 30 degrees from vertical. Hold that lean for a half hour. You gettin' tired? Are you feeling that in your back?
• Okay. Now sit in your chair again and rock your upper body out 8 inches to the side once a second for a half hour. How's that feel? Good?
• The last lesson is this; sit in your chair upright and now bend forward at the waist 30 to 45 degrees and bring yourself back to upright once a second for 30 minutes. Fun eh?
• If you really want to make this interesting, sit on a swiss exercize ball and do the same things. Tiring isn't it?
• Now just sit upright on the chair or ball and put your arms out in front at shoulder width. Swing your shoulders left to right and right to left with your arms out front. Easy right? It is easy because you are not using core muscles and trunk muscles and hips and hamstrings to hold your position. They can all be used to drive the canoe.

I have said this a million times (maybe more like 50 or so), if your movement or posture is not making the canoe go, do not do it. You are wasting valuable energy.

Here is something else to try; put yourself into position as if about to catch with a good power U. Does it feel awkward? Are you comfortable? Can you hold that position for a long time? Find a comfortable position by moving your trunk and your back and your shoulders while still maintaining a power U. There is where you want to be at the catch.

Brent