On The Water

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 ...

Water can be soft and gentle like air. When you float or paddle on it can sometimes feel like flying. But water can also be hard and painful. When you dive off a ten-meter platform it can actually hurt you like hitting a concrete wall.   This is what makes this element so fascinating because when pressure is applied on it, forces always counteract that pressure. For many water related activities such as swimming, kayaking or rowing (just to name a few), it takes an incredible tactile or sensory ability to feel and understand how the water behaves when applying various pressures with palms, paddles, oars or other equipment at various angles and at various water currents, air winds, temperatures or other environmental factors. Finding the feel of the water Feeling the water, holding it, squeezing it or however you want to call it, describes an almost magical ability to understand how to apply pressure on the water, use the counteracting force in the most productive way, gain tra...