Here's a really good video a guy took of his stroke as he attempted to change it over 6 sessions. Shows you what can be done if you're prepared to roll up your sleeves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZpckGIvGTI

Let me say up front I am no forward stroke technician, self taught and still got a lot to learn.

Definitely improved over the 6 sessions but I still don't see much rotation going on, his shoulders appear to remain fairly square on and as a result it looks as though he is still arm paddling to a certain degree. I thought his blade was exiting at a better point initially than it does later, he seems to be pulling the blade down the side of the boat (cramping his lower arm up) when initially it was allowed to travel out to the side a little more.

If I'm wrong please speak up, 'cause I'm a learner too.

Regards Garry.

You probably have a better eye for the technical details than me Garry, I just thought it was a good illustration of how you can change old habits reasonably quickly with the desire & some good instruction. The difference between what he's doing at the start & what he's doing at the end is palpable, although still not perfect. Good on him for putting it up I reckon!

Mark, my critique should be taken lightly. I certainly could benefit from some formal instruction. If someone were to video my technique I'm sure they could find plenty for me to work on. My forward stroke is still evolving, even after 100's of sessions.
I continually watch others (good paddlers stand out), watch videos (Reitz & Barton) and there are some good resources (such as this) on the internet to help fine tune your stroke. Youtube, as you would know, has some great clips (type in any Olympian kayakers name), I found this one very helpful for example;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=e ... re=related

I am constantly assessing myself. Every time I look at my avatar photo on the right I cringe. Even though I seem to be still rotating I have dropped my top elbow (taken at about 16 km into a race, very tired). I think back at my early efforts to use a wing paddle and it must have provided (probably still does) more than a few laughs for some of the guys out here, breezing past in their K1s.

Regards Garry.

Hi Guys,

I couldn't agree more...you tube has some great stuff, check this one out, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWLx0eMo7p0
I got a lot out of it!!

Cheers,
Silvio

Must be a group of Queensland paddlers. They all seem to be doing over 12 km/hr.

Regards Garry.

..and that against the tide!

G Raider

I don't think so Garry.
I think they are from Sydney. You can tell the way they paddle. Just like the way they drive in pick hour traffic.

Nahh... Based on what one may be lead to believe after reading parts of this forum, they can't possibly be Queenslanders! There's less than 25 paddlers in the pod and they all appear to be following the leader

HA HA HA
You are funny Silvo...
i like it

Salty and Gaz,

From recent experience, the paddle speed is directly related to the conversation level... No names, no packdrill...

Raider

I tell people learning the forward stroke is like learning piano - you are never done taking lessons and practicing.

I also tell them that my main motivation for learning a good forward stroke is not that I want to go fast but because I'm fundamentally lazy. As my forward stroke gets better, I can go further with less effort.

For those that want to improve their forward stroke and a whole lot more you have a real treat heading your way. BCU Level 4 coach Ginni Callahan will be in the Sydney area shortly. My wife and I have had the pleasure of a number of days coaching with her and she is a superb teacher of the art of paddling. I was just checking the Expedition Kayaks blog and I noticed that the details of her visit to Sydney are now available. Check it out! http://www.expeditionkayaks.blogspot.com/

Geoff