Techniques of Rowing
Sitting up straight strengthens your abdominal muscles and allows for the torso twist and shoulder thrust that make up the efficient forward stroke. With practice, you can learn to "hang" horizontally on the stroke and you'll feel no lower back fatigue at All. If your back begins hurting, simply lean and stretch forward on the next stroke. Stretch your neck and drop your shoulders every few minutes.
Paddling upwind can be hard work but you can still make good progress against the wind if you bear down and paddle effectively. When it's really windy and headway is difficult, wait for a lull in the wind and then paddle hard to the next spot where you can rest. Work your way upwind as close to the beach as possible. Take advantage of natural windbreaks like points or rocks or kelp beds for rest stops. Don't try to power up the faces of waves, you'll wear yourself out quickly working against gravity, and your kayak will pound - slowing you down.
Leg Drive
Kayaking requires techniques, besides the right angle of body rotation and paddle angle, Leg Drive is another important factor. Notice the right leg on the above picture. Paddlers use leg drive to drive the kayak forward by applying a kicking motion/force in coordination of the paddle cycle. By using leg drive, one is able to obtain a better body rotation and balance on the kayak, making strokes more efficent.
Technique - "Ride washing" or Riding Waves
This "Riding technique" is mostly effective in Marathon races.
A racing cyclist takes pace by placing himself, right behind the other racing cyclists, to reduce wind resistance. A paddler uses taking pace to reduce the necessary effort. By keeping the kayak positioned correctly on the wave from an other kayak, you can ride the wave and surf down hill all the way. It reduces the necessary effort considerably. The effort it takes to follow up is reduced considerably, and on top of that, there is also the psychological effect of "keeping up".
The kayak creates two waves which are relevant; there is the stern wave behind the kayak and the broadside waves, which are the most important. The best way of riding the wave is to place your own kayak next to the leading kayak.
To obtain a good and effective pace one needs a lot of experience and pracise of steering, it is therefore important to choose a kayak with good steering qualities. That's why it is easier to take pace in a racing kayak than in a touring kayak.
Often, such "Riding" method can be collabrated between a few paddlers in marathon or competition. This allow them to take turn to ride on each other waves, this gives them an advantage over other paddler who are individually relying on themselves. Such practise are common when 2 or more paddlers in a marathon race are from the same representatives.
It's taken for granted that "riding" is a part of any marathon race. But this is not the only reason why it ought to be part of the daily training, it is also a way to practise ones steering- and balance ability and it is a fun way to collaborate with ones friends.
The things that matter the effect of "Riding" are:
• The type of the leading kayak
• The weight of the leading paddler
• The depth of the water
• The wind conditions
• The speed
The more streamlined the kayak type is, the less wave it creates, but under all circumstances the waves build up when the speed increases. Just like a heavy paddler will provide a bigger wave than a light padler.
In shallow water the waves increase.
Surfing reduces the water resistance, but under windy conditions the wind resistance can be the stronger and thereby reduce the effect of the pace. The waves created by the wind can also reduce the effect – however the psychological effect is still there!!