Connor Baxter on Stroke Technique and Paddle Length

[blueplanetsurf]

I had the chance to sit down and interview Connor Baxter at the 2017 Starboard distributor meeting on Maui last weekend.  I can't post the video on his updated version of the Bolt paddle yet but here is a video of Connor talking about paddle length (his paddles are dramatically shorter than they used to be)  and stroke technique (he tries to use his legs and core muscles more than upper body strength).  You can't argue with his results.

http://blueplanetsurf.com/blogs/news/114432709-connor-baxter-on-paddle-length-and-sup-stroke-technique

[mrbig]

Mahalos Robert!

Really interesting on the evolution of his technique; great useable information just stand up !!
  

[supsurf-tw]

Great info in the second half of the vid. Good explanation via the metal pole\skateboard anology at the end

[Bean]

Great interview, a lot of gems.  Connor gives tons of credit to his peers, but I'm sure it's a two way street.  Now, where did I put my hacksaw...

[PonoBill]

Great video, nice to see the evolution of Connors stroke. I haven't seen him or Kai all year. Strange to only see the Maui kids in Hood River.

[blueplanetsurf]

When I started racing the advice I got was to "fall forward" onto the paddle during the power phase and using gravity.  What Connor is saying is pretty much the opposite- standing up and throwing the hips forward during the pull.  It makes a lot of sense though, throwing the hips forward to glide through the recovery, it also keeps the paddle angle more straight throughout the power phase.  The analogy of projecting yourself on a skateboard past a fixed pole by getting the hips back as far as possible and then throwing your hips past it made a lot of sense to me. 
This is the link directly to the video:

[UKRiverSurfers]

I have to say - some of his points are a bit 'last century' to paddlers from other paddle disciplines. Yep he is Fast, but his technique changes so much over such a short time shows on the grand scheme of things, he's a beginners still.. Bloody fast beginner none the less

[UKRiverSurfers]

Correction Conner -----

'Paddle technique is changing'


He means -

'My paddle technique is changing'


The old school paddlers still paddle the same as they did in early nineties 😃

[UKRiverSurfers]

This is why I'm no fan of comps and races..


Just like swimming - the 'winners' are often not necessarily the best just the fastest.

[UKRiverSurfers]

Every person is built mechanically different.


Really?

Last time I looked - every person is built mechanically the same!


Yes - every person has physiological differences but mechanics of every human being are more or less the same unless you have an injury or something similar. 

[UKRiverSurfers]

Watched a bit more....

Not really death gripping


You mean you were death gripping not too long ago??

[PonoBill]

Connor is a young guy. I told him a few years ago that his technique wasn't great. Pissed him off a bit, but he didn't make any changes and he got faster and faster. As he's matured he's started watching more, and paying attention to other paddlers like Dave, Danny and Travis that have always chased technique. But their paddle technique is changing too, Dave has made substantial changes in the last few years, mostly in bringing more hip motion into play. Standup paddling is a young sport, and the fundamental paddle technique is substantially different than other paddlesports. It is evolving. The technique Connor describes here is an amalgam--mostly Dave Kalama's with a little Danny Ching tossed in. But it's closer to what I suspect is optimal.

We've had some heated discussion here on what good technique means. I've been doing this long enough to have heard it all. Everything from bending your upper arm and straightening it to drive the paddle to it's OK to pull past your feet. I don't think anyone can answer the question of what technique is best, but I think we'll get closer soon. There's always room for improvement. People have been paddling outrigger canoes for a long time now, and the technique for that is still changing.

[UKRiverSurfers]

Good point. Of course all sides of paddling are evolving or cycling back and of course swimming is too.

What really spins me out is - why so fast with bad technique?

My good friend who i paddle with a fair bit will whip me on the flat and his technique has got serious flaws.

He is a different build to me, an ectomorph, tall, skinny with long bones and muscles.

In any technical water - DW, WW or messy sea's I am faster than him but on flat glass water, straight line speed, he's faster every time, even on a slower board 

[LM]

I like Connor's use of extremes in his analogies, it really helps visualize his points & his example of using a steel pole & a skateboard is great. I do the same thing when describing certain aspects of paddle or board design, it's subtle stuff but when you use extremes to explain it really helps visualize. Good video Robert!

[UKRiverSurfers]

Thats a very good point.

An excellent way of trying to put an image in somebodies head.