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Stand Up Paddle => Technique => Topic started by: Argosi on August 01, 2013, 07:41:34 PM

Title: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Argosi on August 01, 2013, 07:41:34 PM
Larry Cain is one of the gurus of SUP technique. He's a former Olympic gold medalist in C1 sprint canoe. He demonstrated that many aspects of C1 stroke technique could be applied to SUP by almost immediately becoming one of the fastest guys in flat water when he started SUP a few years ago. He's now 50 years old and the fastest SUP paddler in Canada. SUPracer.com's Christopher Parker recently described Larry as one of the smartest and most respected guys in the world of SUP and refers to him as the "Professor of SUP" because of Larry's intelligent and analytical approach. So yes, he's a serious guy when it comes to stroke technique.

He recently wrote a blog post on using technique drills to improve your stroke. He's broken down the SUP stroke into its components and described technique and drills for each part. It's detailed and analytical, like most everything he writes. Nice thing is that he's also created short videos to illustrate each drill.

Here's a link to his blog (see his July 20 post):
http://larrycain.ca/blog.html (http://larrycain.ca/blog.html)

Definitely recommended. After applying some of this stuff, yesterday I did my regular 5 mile paddle and ended up with my best time yet.

Here are his videos that accompany his blog post (make sure you also read the details in the actual post to get the most out of the videos):

1 Improving Technique with Drills (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jokNiBTgcxA#ws)

2 Entry Drill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsuQd63Ffzc#ws)

3 Gathering Drill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wsEG0lRWrU#ws)

4 Catch Drill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X1Sl0_Ic_s#ws)

5 Applying the Catch Drill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dosMoqZa80w#ws)

6 The Middle of the Stroke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXzZRk8GLtA#ws)

7 Exit Drill (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvIImhn9PkY#ws)

8 Achieving Maximum Results (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ep2zN4Ne0Y#ws)
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: XLR8 on August 01, 2013, 07:56:52 PM
Larry is a badass.  That blog post was incredibly helpful to me too and I feel it is pretty generous of him to put the drills out in short videos like that.  Nice job in putting it all together here for us.  I've had the opportunity to race with Larry -- well, behind Larry -- a few times over the last couple of years and he is powerful.  And a nice guy.  These are quick, simple to integrate drills that have definitely helped me with technique.
Title: Re:
Post by: SpecialK on August 02, 2013, 06:51:06 PM
Without a doubt, this is the best set of technical instruction out there. Thanks for the effort Larry...
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: pdxmike on August 03, 2013, 02:20:20 PM
Thanks Argosi--these are great.

Here's a video that's been posted in the past of his complete stroke.  Very helpful to see--shows it from several angles with no interruptions:

Larry Cain Paddle Stroke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oN8GtBh0sU#ws)
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: DavidJohn on August 03, 2013, 05:02:27 PM
Excellent vids.. Thanks for posting them.

DJ
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: SURFnTURF on August 04, 2013, 04:31:29 PM
Like!

That 2nd video was from WB.   I can't count how many times I've done that loop.   Only about 4 years SUPing it now, but 10 kayaking it before that.   He makes it look easy.   it ain't.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: blueplanetsurf on August 05, 2013, 01:40:27 AM
These are great drills.  I find drills are probably the best way to improve technique and agree that many paddlers need to work on a clean, forward catch.  I also like his points on engaging the hips, good stuff.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: upwinder on August 05, 2013, 04:40:33 AM

Larry Cain Paddle Stroke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oN8GtBh0sU#ws)

Wow. I counted 45 strokes on his right side before changing  :o presumably there were a few before the start of the footage as well.

(Edit: obviously masterful stroke technique but on second viewing I noticed he has also his weight biased a bit to the left side while paddling on the right...using a bit of opposite rail to keep it tracking? no way my brain and body will work together like that)
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Argosi on August 06, 2013, 09:46:09 AM

Larry Cain Paddle Stroke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oN8GtBh0sU#ws)

Wow. I counted 45 strokes on his right side before changing  :o presumably there were a few before the start of the footage as well.

(Edit: obviously masterful stroke technique but on second viewing I noticed he has also his weight biased a bit to the left side while paddling on the right...using a bit of opposite rail to keep it tracking? no way my brain and body will work together like that)

Larry can paddle indefinitely on one side. One thing he says is it's better to change sides when you want to and not because you have to. It also avoids the inevitable loss of speed as you change sides.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: raf on August 14, 2013, 07:29:52 AM
Thought I'd chime in as I just met him at the Lobster Cup in maine and had some good conversation.  Really nice guy.  From the vids, I thought he was 6'2" or bigger, but he is actually around 5'9" or 10".  Very compact, super strong.  Pretty much built to kick ass, which is what he does.  On both days, he was a dot on the horizon within 15 minutes. 

He can and does paddle on one side as long as he wants even in rough coastal chop.  The scary thing is he promised to bring what he calls "some really fast paddlers" to next year's SUP Cup.  Meaning guys that can beat him. 
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Billekrub on August 09, 2014, 07:31:37 PM
Thanks for posting these Larry Cain videos.  They helped me enormously.

Started today focusing on the entry, using a more forward insertion as described and it made a huge difference, as if my board were twice as fast to accelerate.  With much less effort could get up to speed, or, if timing required, could wait and just do a few powerful strokes to catch the wave.

Compared to previous sessions, my wave catch percent went up to 80 percent as opposed to 20, with much more power and mobility in the waves.

Will continue to work on the other items.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 09, 2014, 08:43:26 PM
He's doing a little J-stroke and feathering his blade to the outside to keep the board straight. I like his drills a lot better than his stroke. Understand my own stroke sucks, but I've watched a lot of the best guys paddle SUPs and OC, and what I'm seeing Larry do isn't what I'd call current practice. Nice stroke, and I'm sure he'd kick my ass, but it's not what I'd emulate.

Contrary to his drills, his blade is in the air when he starts his catch. Doesn't happen every time, but it happens most of the time. He isn't reaching forward and planting his blade.

Most of the great paddlers concentrate on rotating in the plane of the spine, pulling back with the blade side shoulder with rotation and hip movement and pushing forward with the upper shoulder and lats, rotating the offside hip forward. 

He's adding power at the end of the stroke to get that J-draw going, so when he feathers and recovers there's a splash as he's pulling water. You can see his rail and tail bobbing downward on the longer strokes.  His blade is off to the side so he can't just push it forward. He has to drop his upper hand to clear the blade and swing wide to recover it. The resulting slow recovery and energy required to get his hands into position are probably part of the reason he's rushing his catch.

His left side catch is inconsistent. If you look across his board you can see part of the blade out of the water for the whole stroke. He buries deeper on the right side, but hes starting to pull before the blade is in the water.

There's lots of ways to skin a cat. The OC guys are still changing technique after many years of refinement. The stroke for SUP will change, and I find Larry's drills to be excellent. but if I'm going to copy a stroke it's not going to be that one.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 10, 2014, 07:56:31 AM
No, I'm not the final arbiter of paddle strokes, I'm just describing what I see. If you can't see his paddle moving through the air before it hits the water (especially on the left side) then just look a little harder and more critically.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: SaMoSUP on August 10, 2014, 08:57:50 AM
...I've watched a lot of the best guys paddle SUPs and OC, and what I'm seeing Larry do isn't what I'd call current practice. Nice stroke, and I'm sure he'd kick my ass, but it's not what I'd emulate....

This is what I discovered when I did the clinics with Danny Ching and Dave Kalama recently. Most in the group had to undo our existing strokes since what we learned when we started was the technique that Larry Cain teaches. It was amusing to watch some good paddlers, racers & instructors, look like novices working on modified stroke mechanics.

I do think that what people like Larry teaches is a great foundational technique that leads to what some of the current elite SUP paddlers are doing. Just like in snow skiing, the technique progression starts from a snowplow to stem christie to parallel. Once you can parallel, then technique focus shifts to knee angulation, hip drive, pole plants, etc.

The main difference I found in the "new school" stroke clinics was technique in hip and core engagement which in turn wreaked havoc on my existing reach, catch, power phases of the stroke.

 
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 10, 2014, 09:14:44 AM
I think his drills are pretty good, but I don't like the idea of unlearning anything. It's like grammar school where they teach you that people before Columbus thought the world was flat, and then you find out that almost no one ever thought that. I prefer to start learning the current practice--even if it changes.
Title: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Bycyclist on August 10, 2014, 11:20:33 AM
So who are the "new school" folks? I've been taking private lessons, getting my stroke decent, but it's probably what you guys would call "old school".

I've been playing a bit with hip engagement, etc., but I hate wasting my time. I've already gone thru this in previous hobbies (competitive shooting, martial arts) where I've spent a lot of time and money only to find I was climbing up a suboptimal ladder.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: juandoe on August 10, 2014, 11:31:48 AM
I don't see a lot of differences in Danny Ching's and Larry Cain's techniques.   Danny  has a little more side-entry on the plant but both are driving from the hips through the upper body. 

http://vimeo.com/50666622


He told me he averages 6 strokes per side because after that he is "not accelerating." 
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Bycyclist on August 10, 2014, 11:41:39 AM
In contrast with how I've learned so far, I'm seeing top hand stays higher, lower wrist "breaks" for faster release closer to feet, recovery path of paddle has less of an arc path, stays closer to the rail till extension/catch. Am I seeing this right?
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: bat paddler on August 10, 2014, 01:43:17 PM
lots of differences between the Danny video and the Cain Sample.

1. Danny has greater reach before paddle entry
2. Danny's paddle is more vertical on entry.
3. Danny's pull is shorter.
4. Danny looks to have fuller catch
5. Cain had less catch but loads after catch
6. Cain pulls longer
7. Cain stands stiffer on the board
8. Danny uses a more hinge in his stroke, Cain more twist.
9. Cain's catch is more "minimal effort" on entry.  Danny's is more heavy on entry.
10. Danny's stroke is in general more skilled, Cain's is more athletic based.

I'm sure there are more differences.

Best comment I have heard about paddling came from George of SIC.  He says the most important thing is to not lose the catch.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: juandoe on August 10, 2014, 03:02:33 PM
Here you can see both paddlers in the same race.  Danny is passing so he is really pulling hard and Larry is drafting with some cross chop so the situations are a little different.   You can also see Larry following Anthony Vela in at the finish.   Look around the 0:45 mark.  You can also see Larry vs Terrell in  a sprint.   Danny has a nice stroke but I doubt most mortals can perform it effectively.  His power to weight ratio is incredible and he has the fitness to maintain it.  A few strokes like that and I am anaerobic.   

I would like to see what would happen if you gave Larry a shorter paddle.   I think it would look a lot more like Danny's stroke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y454T6dE410
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 10, 2014, 03:18:24 PM
I don't see a lot of differences in Danny Ching's and Larry Cain's techniques.   Danny  has a little more side-entry on the plant but both are driving from the hips through the upper body. 

He told me he averages 6 strokes per side because after that he is "not accelerating."

I wouldn't choose a video at the finish of a distance race to analyze anyone's stroke--even Danny's. At that point of the BOP distance race I looked like I was trying to mix cake batter. But even with the small image and general exhaustion Danny's stroke is a lot more like what I have come to view as "modern" SUP technique--which is surprising, because Danny used to have a more traditional stroke. Basically what bat said, though I don't agree about the twist. Danny lunges more than Cain but he also digs with his paddle side shoulder and projects his offside shoulder.

I think for consistent technique based on study of modern paddle coaching it's tough to beat Kalama's stroke.  Kai Lenny's stroke is equally studied and elegant. Danny's stroke has been a little more "Hawaiian" in that he drops his upper hand more than some, though in recent years he's gone more to the "Tahitian" side with a more vertical paddle, keeping the upper hand up and recovering with a forward push instead of a swing. He's always had a beautiful smoothness to his stroke and a ridiculous amount of power.

In this old video Dave shows both the traditional Hawaiian and the Tahitian strokes. His technique has changed some since this--he leans forward more and buries his blade more. I plan to get him to show me that this year. The Hawaiian strokeis first--the ones where his upper hand drops and he swings the paddle to recover. In the Tahitian stroke he's keeping his upper hand high, describing an almond shaped orbit. The blade comes straight forward and you can see the timing difference, which results in his blade being out a little further in the catch and going into the water with no pull--even a tiny hesitation between when the blade is fully plunged and he starts pulling. The cadence is higher, even though he's taking his time getting the blade in the water.

Watch the tail of the board in the Tahitian stroke.

http://vimeo.com/6168373
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: juandoe on August 10, 2014, 05:29:01 PM
My problem with Tahitian is trying to weight the paddle.  In Hawaiian, I can fall on the paddle and twist around my vertical axis.  With Tahitian, I feel like it is all pulling and no weighting.  I was just looking at some stills from the Carolina cup.  Interesting how similar Travis Grant and Danny are in their strokes.
(http://www.supracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Carolina-Cup-24.jpg)

(http://www.supracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Carolina-Cup-25.jpg)

(http://www.supracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Carolina-Cup-25-a.jpg)
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 10, 2014, 06:09:47 PM
Seems like everyone is going to the "fall on your blade" version of the stroke, but I don't understand why a Tahitian stroke would limit your ability to do that. Kalama certainly is doing that as I mentioned above.  I trace that back to the Australians--Annabelle in particular.  I think one of the differences in SUP stroke evolution and OC stroke is that we stand, and so we can put more body weight on the blade. If you do that in a canoe nothing much happens except the canoe bobs too much--and your coach or steersman yells at you..

The Tahitian stroke is mostly about recovery and upper hand position. Once your blade is in place you should be able to rotate onto it as you choose. The Tahitian stroke--or parts of it, should get you blade back into position quickly and let you do all the things you need to do to get the most out of your catch.

Remember that a "Tahitian Stroke" is a conoe thing, what SUP paddlers are doing is adapting pieces of it, trying to get to a better stroke. Everything is still in flux, but I don't believe the stroke people will be teaching in ten years will look anything like a Hawaiian recovery.

A great number of the current elite paddlers are in the Tiger Woods conundrum--they are great at the sub-optimal stroke they have mastered. They can do what Tiger did, and take a bunch of steps backwards, throwing away at least a year and maybe more of being at or near the top. Or they can paddle on and eventually be eclipsed buy younger athletes who are just as fit, who have been coached to a better technique. Happens in every sport, and there is not a right choice. The young bucks coming up will run over the top of today's masters sooner or later. the calculus has to be "If I make these changes, how long will it knock me off the top, and how much longer will it prolong my game." Tough call.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: bat paddler on August 10, 2014, 06:42:58 PM
not that complicated.  many elements are only style, not substance.

1. get and maintain a good catch.
2. don't sink your board
2b. unweight your board as much as possible

you'll go fast with minimal effort.  and that's the right or wrong of it.

Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 10, 2014, 06:46:20 PM
Ah yes. And an Omelet is just eggs.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Kaihoe on August 10, 2014, 07:52:41 PM
Seems like everyone is going to the "fall on your blade" version of the stroke, but I don't understand why a Tahitian stroke would limit your ability to do that. Kalama certainly is doing that as I mentioned above.  I trace that back to the Australians--Annabelle in particular.  I think one of the differences in SUP stroke evolution and OC stroke is that we stand, and so we can put more body weight on the blade. If you do that in a canoe nothing much happens except the canoe bobs too much--and your coach or steersman yells at you..

The Tahitian stroke is mostly about recovery and upper hand position. Once your blade is in place you should be able to rotate onto it as you choose. The Tahitian stroke--or parts of it, should get you blade back into position quickly and let you do all the things you need to do to get the most out of your catch.

Remember that a "Tahitian Stroke" is a conoe thing, what SUP paddlers are doing is adapting pieces of it, trying to get to a better stroke. Everything is still in flux, but I don't believe the stroke people will be teaching in ten years will look anything like a Hawaiian recovery.

A great number of the current elite paddlers are in the Tiger Woods conundrum--they are great at the sub-optimal stroke they have mastered. They can do what Tiger did, and take a bunch of steps backwards, throwing away at least a year and maybe more of being at or near the top. Or they can paddle on and eventually be eclipsed buy younger athletes who are just as fit, who have been coached to a better technique. Happens in every sport, and there is not a right choice. The young bucks coming up will run over the top of today's masters sooner or later. the calculus has to be "If I make these changes, how long will it knock me off the top, and how much longer will it prolong my game." Tough call.

 Annabel's a Kiwi :) Aussis are always nicking our stuff
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Bycyclist on August 10, 2014, 08:17:04 PM
Very helpful discussion thanks all. One of the concepts from competitive shooting is economy of motion - minimizing wasted motion/effort for movement mechanics in various aspects, such as keeping gun up in "eye line" and closer to full extension. I'm seeing interesting parallels in minimizing recovery stroke movement, keeping top hand high, and maximizing blade in the water at the power phase. A lot to work on during tomorrow's session. Makes sense, thanks.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: pdxmike on August 10, 2014, 08:21:31 PM
Is "unweighting the board" a real thing?  I know some people mention it occasionally, but many top paddlers never mention it.  It seems like it would be mentioned more if it were real and significant.


And if it is, how do you do it?
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: breakbad on August 10, 2014, 08:39:28 PM
Is "unweighting the board" a real thing?  I know some people mention it occasionally, but many top paddlers never mention it.  It seems like it would be mentioned more if it were real and significant.


And if it is, how do you do it?

Was going to ask the same thing. Outside having a salad instead of a cheeseburger, I really have no idea how to do this.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: hbsteve on August 10, 2014, 09:02:31 PM
If you unweighted the board, doesn't that mean that you must also weight the board?
Seems like staying smooth would make the board move faster.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: breakbad on August 11, 2014, 05:49:23 AM
If you unweighted the board, doesn't that mean that you must also weight the board?
Seems like staying smooth would make the board move faster.

So my n00b brain is still trying to compute. Is it more of a twisting / horizontal recovery instead of a vertical ellipse? Like in a golf swing when you turn your shoulders and hips, you get more power, but you want to stay level and twist around your spine.

In the Cain video, he also talks about starting to return the hip before the end of the stroke...the part where he stands briskly and the board moves backwards. Maybe its hard for a novice like me to notice, but watching some racers recently I've noticed the hip essentially follows to paddle. When I do it I feel like I'm standing (unweighting?) then dipping on the stroke (weighting?).
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: SaMoSUP on August 11, 2014, 06:49:56 AM
...The young bucks coming up will run over the top of today's masters sooner or later. the calculus has to be "If I make these changes, how long will it knock me off the top, and how much longer will it prolong my game." Tough call.

Danny touched on this topic in his clinic. He's very much aware that at 30 years old his time at the top is numbered but he's still evolving his stroke, looking for an edge. Next year's stroke may look slightly different than last year's. I was very impressed by him sharing some of the new mechanics he's working on that he hasn't perfected yet. So to look at a video from 2012 and say his stroke looks similar to Larry is only partially true. It goes with my earlier point that what Larry teaches is foundational and that each person can take from this baseline and modify it to fit their body type, injury history, fitness level, athleticism, conditions, etc. Different strokes for different folks.

Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: bat paddler on August 12, 2014, 08:03:49 AM
Is "unweighting the board" a real thing?  I know some people mention it occasionally, but many top paddlers never mention it.  It seems like it would be mentioned more if it were real and significant.


And if it is, how do you do it?


Really?  I thought the concept of unweighting the board was common.  Maybe I'm using the wrong term.  We are probably all doing this to some degree, but let me describe the target and maybe someone can come up with a better term.

You plant your blade, get a good catch, transfer as much body weight to the paddle as feasible and take your stroke  as best as possible without depressing the board.   The action of weighting the paddle will "unweight the board"  I simulataniously add a forward pushing with my feet, doing a subtle but definite forward draw on the surface of board as I pull back on the paddle.  It feels a bit like I am bringing my paddle and my feet towards each other.  This pulling back and pushing forward gives a definitive sensation of "unweighting the board". 

It feels like what you do when you cross country ski, kicking the lead leg forward  during each stride.  Maybe calling it a "scooting" or "skimming" action would be more clear.

I only do distance paddling, so maybe its not applicable across the range of SUP.  I have been able to do this on every board I have used, though some are easier to feel the effect than others. 

Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: PonoBill on August 12, 2014, 08:15:41 AM
It is a common technique, though perhaps not as much for flatwater as downwinders. At least I think of it that way. In flatwater, unweighting your board to initially accelerate (trying to get light on your feet by putting extra weight on the blade) doesn't do much since you give it all back one way or the other. It screws up your stroke, and bounces the board. The boards of the really fast paddlers (except in all-out sprints) are steady in the water.

In a downwinder, using that extra little kick to catch a swell makes perfect sense. Whatever gets you into the swell is a good thing--unless you fall or boof.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: Luc Benac on August 12, 2014, 10:11:15 AM
You plant your blade, get a good catch, transfer as much body weight to the paddle as feasible and take your stroke  as best as possible without depressing the board.   The action of weighting the paddle will "unweight the board"  I simulataniously add a forward pushing with my feet, doing a subtle but definite forward draw on the surface of board as I pull back on the paddle.  It feels a bit like I am bringing my paddle and my feet towards each other.  This pulling back and pushing forward gives a definitive sensation of "unweighting the board". 

It is a common technique, though perhaps not as much for flatwater as downwinders. At least I think of it that way. In flatwater, unweighting your board to initially accelerate (trying to get light on your feet by putting extra weight on the blade) doesn't do much since you give it all back one way or the other. It screws up your stroke, and bounces the board.

Thanks for the clarification Bill & Bat. I was starting to learn/practice/use that technique but it looks like it is counterproductive in anything but downwind.
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: pdxmike on August 12, 2014, 04:17:22 PM
Yes, thanks Bill and Bat.  I've heard of weighting, but not much.  Certainly many people talk about leaning onto the paddle and loading your weight onto it.  My thought has always been that the point isn't really to take weight off the board, but to use your weight to do some of the work of stroking, vs. doing all the work with your arms. 


It does seem like if you really wanted to "unweight" the board, you'd stroke to achieve more of a downward force than a backwards one with your blade.  But then you'd be distorting your stroke and achieve correspondingly less force propelling you forward, probably to the point it negates any advantage of having the board gliding forward with less resistance.  At least that's how it seems to me, although I'd be the first to change if I thought it would make me faster.   I am going to try it and see if I can get the feeling of unweighting.


It reminds me of swimming technique, where until recently there was a lot of focus on achieving "lift", doing an "s-shaped pull", "diagonal sculling", etc. Recently most top swimmers seem to be going back to forgetting about all that and just pulling straight back, the idea being that the pull straight back is the most efficient way to go forward.  So, no up or down, just straight back pulling. 
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: headmount on August 30, 2014, 09:21:19 AM
The recent underwater footage of Katie Ladecky in Australia really showed that. 
Title: Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos
Post by: pdxmike on August 30, 2014, 01:17:35 PM
Headmount--just looked her up, and she sure does pull straight back.


The underwater views also really show how she (and others) have a distinct pause at the front of their stroke, so they are grabbing water and dropping their forearm down, so they have a great catch with a lot of surface area (forearm as well as hand), THEN they start to pull back.  I just saw a video of me paddling and I'm pulling back before my paddle is even in the water.  ::)   The Gorge racers were really sinking their paddles in before pulling back.


Other thing the swimming shows is how common the straight-arm recovery and little rotation have become.  A few years ago coaches would have been yelling at them to keep a high elbow, and rotate, rotate, rotate.  The relevance to paddling is it shows just how much swimming technique is still changing after many more decades than SUP racing has been around.  Also, as people were talking in another thread, if you're ahead of the pack (with technique, with the current thinking about paddle or surfing board length or design, or whatever) you can end up looking old-school, like you missed the boat that everyone else got on.  In reality, you already were on that boat and got on to the newer one that most people haven't even seen arriving yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHbNKX3VkIM

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