What makes flatwater kayaking so unique

When learning something new, progress almost never happens in a linear fashion. In many sports, the learning curve varies depending on the individual and their ability to adapt to the new stressors that typically involve a combination of physical and mental engagement.

Flatwater kayaking is a little different. 

Learning how to paddle efficiently is a life long process. It combines gradual neuromuscular and psychodynamic adaptations in conjunction with strength/power and endurance development. And because all those elements play their significant role into paddling speed and efficiency, the progress is far from being linear. Farther than any other sport in my opinion. 

Improvements in power, speed and endurance can be monitored in a more straightforward way - similarly to weight lifting or running and cycling. However, the improvements in neuromuscular and psychological adaptations, the feel for the water, the balance and relaxation on the boat, the right body coordination and muscle engagement, are all hard to track in any meaningful way. 

No other sport relies so heavily on "the feel" other than flatwater kayaking. And this is what makes the learning process so troublesome, fascinating and addicting at the same time. The changes in how one feels while on the water as one progresses are really hard to quantify. They may get better or worse on a day to day training scheme (short term) but when positive changes happen and happen more frequently (long term), they are magnificent and incredibly motivating for the athlete. Speed and efficiency also get better but sometimes the better feel may precede the faster speeds. You can't measure a good feel for the catch and can't quantify a great pull - you just know it happens. 

For some, perfecting each stroke is what keeps them training hard and showing up every day. Once you feel a great catch, you just keep searching for it in every paddle stroke. It's an amazing feeling of freedom. It almost feels like flying through the water.

With consistency and good instruction progress will happen just not in a very short term.  In my limited experience, I have seen major progress happening in longer chunks of time, such as 6months or 1year.

Flatwater kayaking is not a short term reward sport. It is one for the very long haul.

Happy spring everyone!