Kayak Racing
Kayak racing has become an increasingly
more popular sport. If you are interested in
venturing in the sport of kayak racing use the
tips to pull ahead.
Kayak Racing Tips
Practice makes perfect. Practice the course
before the race. Marker buoys are often set
weeks in advance. Use your practice sessions
to figure out the lines that you will be taking
during the race.
Try to get a run in a day or two
before the race, this will give you an indication
of what the current will be like on race day.
When racing avoid the shallows.
When you're moving with the current, deep water
is your friend. When the water level is less
than 2.5 feet deep, there's increased hull resistance
and your boat will slow down considerably. Shallower
water can be useful if you're paddling against
a current. When going against the current, find
transitional areas where the bottom isn't too
shallow to slow your hull down.
Check the weather to determine
the prevailing winds. Afternoon gusty winds
are always a possibility, and can make going
against the current even more challenging. When
paddling against wind, minimize the amount of
time your paddle blades are in the air, slightly
hunch forward to make your body as small as
possible, and draft directly behind boats as
much as possible.
Set up your turns around the buoys
so you're always paddling, this will help you
from losing momentum. If there is no traffic
on the race course, take a sharp line around
the buoy. Try to make the buoy turns as close
as possibly without hitting the buoy. If there
is a lot of race traffic, stay to the outside
to avoid colliding with other kayaks and paddles.
Collisions can be time consuming and colliding
paddles can cause an interruption to rhythm,
both of which can cost a kayaker the race.
Wake riding and wash hanging both
refer to drafting off another boat. Studies
have shown that drafting 1 to 2 meters directly
behind a boat can produce energy savings of
up to 30 to 32%. Kayaks positioned 1 to 2 meters
off the sides of a leading boat can achieve
16 to 18% energy savings. Try to draft whenever
you have the opportunity, leapfrogging from
one boat to another. This can be a key strategy
to kayak racing.
Practice drafting before the race,
it's both an art and a science. When drafting,
don't get sucked into staying behind a considerably
slower boat. If a boat is traveling at a slower
speed than you are comfortable with pass it.
If competitor is drafting your kayak, dump him
or her out of your wake by maneuvering your
boat suddenly, the kayak drafting you will end
up in undisturbed water or in the shallows.
While this might seem mean, since there are
no rules against drafting it's a valid race
tactic that serious competitors might consider
during tight races. This technique takes practice
and you have to know what you're doing, so practice
with friends.
Many recreational paddlers in
the race do not have good boat handling skills
so if you end up in traffic, prepare to paddle
defensively.
At the finish of the kayak race
your legs are going to feel rubbery when you
get out of your boat. If you are competing in
a multi-sport race and required to sprint after
the kayaking leg, you will need to practice
the transition. Practice running immediately
after a paddling workout. Also practice paddling
with the shoes that you will be wearing for
the run. Try circuit workouts to help get your
legs used to the transition of paddling to running,
this will also help improve boat entry and exit
skills.
Before the race set a goal and
have a plan but be willing to adapt if necessary.
During the race, stick to your plan, but be
adaptable should the need arise. Most of all
enjoy the sport of kayaking and have fun!
About the Author:
Rob Daniels is an avid kayaker and outdoor enthusiasts
more at Snorkeling Shop http://www.snorkeling-shop.com
and Kayak Escape http://www.kayak-escape.com
