Paddling with a wing blade will give you a significant increase in speed over flat blade paddles. Even without using the "ideal" technique you'll get real improvement in your distance made good.

To get the full benefit from a wing blade you need to use it correctly. The technique is not difficult, but does require some fundermental muscle retraining. You'll need to associate a new feeling to the stroke and movement of your torso with the correct technique.

Initially you'll find your muscles protest as you alter your techniques and you may think that the new style is tiring, but that's just while you develop new muscle strength in areas of your torso and shoulders. Persists!

When done correctly, you'll get benefits that will add pleasure and satisfaction to your paddling experience.

I strongly urge you get video recorded, so you can watch and analysis yourself. My wife does this for me at races I do. I can then see when I'm getting sloppy and need to pay more attention to my stroke.

If there is anyone in your area that does stroke clinics I recommend you consider taking one.

There are two excellent DVD's available:

• The Compete Guide to the Kayak Forward Stroke (2nd Edition)
• Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic

Both can be obtained from Paddle.net (http://www.paddling.net)

Even though the "ideal" technique what everyone tries to attain, I've seen many people do very well with variations that work best for them. (Or maybe they need more coaching?)

Most of the stroke power comes from rotation of the torso at the waist, using the larger chest, shoulders, back, abs, oblique, and lateral muscles groups. Most recreational paddlers use only their arms.

Remember: To be perfect, you must perfect your practice.

What follows is a brief run down on the technique. I don't preport to ben any expert. I just want to give an idea of how the technique basicaly goes so anyone considering a wing paddle understands that the new blade offers more advantages than just a fancy new toy.

Sitting Position:

Sit upright, or just slightly forward. Head up, looking forward.

Perhaps the hardest thing for a beginner to do, is to sit up straight and engage your abs, as it requires development of core muscle strength. See now your already doing palates and the kayak has not moved yet!!

Persists with this position even if it means doing additional exercises to strengthen your core muscles. It will take some time for your muscles to strengthen if you are new to this.

Holding the Paddle:

Place the paddle shaft on top of your head and hold it with your elbows bent at 90 degrees. Mark your hand positions with tape. This will help you maintain the correct hand placement on the shaft. (Even some expert paddlers do this to ensure they don't allow the shaft to creep one way.)

Start the stroke with your hands and arms held between shoulder to eye height. Your elbows level with your shoulders.

The Stroke:

The wing paddle technique is generally a higher arm position than with a flat blade paddle.

The paddle stroke is a continuous fluid motion. Each step blends into the next.

1. Rotation and Extend

Rotate your torso and shoulders keeping your arms high and extend your leading hand forward reaching with the blade toward the front of the kayak. Keep your arms high.

This rotation is like winding a spring. The core muscles are being moved around your torso in preparation for the pull phase.

2. The Catch

Places the tip of the blade very deliberately and near vertically into, the water as far forward and as close to, the kayak as is comfortable. The leading arm is now almost straight.

The trailing hand is still at shoulder height and begins to move forward to push on the shaft.

Do not force your body to over extend forward, as this will cause the kayak to bounce and throw the stroke off as your body jerks back.

Your body is still fully rotated, do not unwind yet! You are now set up for the pull part of the stroke.

The blade is moving to full emersion but is still at the side of the kayak.

3. The Pull

As the blade reaches full emersion you begin to unwind your torso. The leading arm remains almost straight, as you pull from your torso. Your leading arm remains relatively straight and certainly does not bend to pull the blade with your biceps. and moves back and away from the side of the kayak.

The wing blade will naturally want to "fly" out from the side of the kayak. This is good and exactly what it meant to happen. Allow it to happen and as you get the feel of it, push out with it. Your leading arm does not bend during the first part of the pull stage, also promoting the blade to move out.

The trailing arm stays high and extends forward to almost straight using the pull phase to push on the paddle. (Only about 20% to 30% of your power is on the pushing hand). Your trailing arm will cross over the centerline of the kayak as you rotate your torso.

REMEMBER: The Pull power comes from unwinding your torso and the effort should be felt in the lateral and back muscles. Do not bend your elbow to pull the paddle with your arms.

An advanced paddler will also push with the leg, against a foot brace, on the leading arm side through the Pull stage to gain even greater power, i.e. if the right side is in the Pull phase the right leg is pushing in time with the stroke.

4. The Exit

As the leading blade moves away and back it will start to exit the water. Lift it clear of the water before it passes your hip. Lift the blade to at least shoulder height! The arm will bend a as this happens and sets up to be the trailing hand for the next stroke.

You are now fully unwound and your opposite hand is reaching forward as you wind up your torso for the Catch of the next stroke.

It is important to practice getting the wing blade out of the water early and not to drag it behind your hip. All the power comes from the pull forward of the hip.

Tips

" Keep your elbows high, near shoulder height, as this will make it easier achieve the correct technique.
" Get someone to video you to help make corrections to your technique.
" Sit in front of a mirror, using a 1 yard stick for the paddle shaft practice the motions to get the feel associated with the correct technique.
" Keep your head level, looking forward and over the center of balance of the kayak. Your head is a heavy object and the more it moves around the more you throw yourself off balance.
" Don't hold the paddle with a "grip of death". Gripping too hard will tense the arm muscles and cause fatigue.
" Straight arms are not locked straight but are loosely straight and firm.
" Keeping yourself flexible will assist in developing good technique.
" Lower arm positions are fine once you get the technique right. Lower arms are used in difficult water and weather conditions to lower the center of gravity, increase stability, and to be better prepared for emergency low braces.