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 forward speed or "distance made good".

To get the full benefit from a wing blade you need to use it correctly. (I know, what a pain!) The technique is not difficult, but does require some fundermental muscle retraining, and that takes time, muscles can be stubbon when it comes to changing habits that you have taken years to form. You'll need to associate a new feeling to get the stroke right.

Here is an excellent video showing really lovely technique. Note the paddlers' position, forward lean, straight back, arms don't bend to pull the paddle, power comes from rotation and leg working. This takes time to perfect.

Initially you'll find your muscles protest as you alter your technique and you may think that the new style is tiring, but that's just those muscles you did not you had waking up. While you develop new muscle strength in areas of your torso and shoulders, persist! Take it slowly, concentrate on technique, technique and more technique, forget anything else, it's all technique!

When done correctly, you'll get the 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 go to. I know when I'm getting lazy and sloppy, I can see my speed drop 1/4 to 1/2 a mile an hour, yet my heart rate jumps up!  I'm working more and getting less, dang it, less haste, more speed, get back in the grove, technique!

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 Kayak Forward Stroke
  

• Brent Reitz Forward Stroke Clinic

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

Even though the "ideal" technique is 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 to go faster?)

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 be an 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 impressing your mates.

Do each of the steps as a separate event and feel it in your body. Don't try to do the complete stroke as one movement when you're learning. You need to feel it, learn from the feel. Sit on a bench if you can and hold a paddle or broom handle. Try it out at home in front of a mirror is good practice.

• Sitting Position:

Sit upright, or slightly forward, head up, chest out, looking forward towards the horizon,.and engage your abs. Perhaps the hardest thing to persists with as it requires development of core muscle strength. (See now your already doing palates and the kayak has not moved yet!!)

It will take some time for your muscles to strengthen unless your already a well trained ab paddler.

• 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 on the outside edge out your hands if you want. This will help you maintain the correct hand placement on the shaft. Even expert paddlers do this to ensure they don't allow the shaft to creep off center.

• The Stroke:

Start the stroke with your hands and arms held between shoulder to eye height. Your elbows level with your shoulders. The wing paddle technique is 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, keeping your arms high and extend your leading hand forward reaching with the blade toward the front of the kayak. Keep your arms up.

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

Place the tip of the blade very deliberately, near vertically into the water, as far forward and as close to, the kayak as is comfortable. The leading arm is now almost straight, just a little elbow bend to be comfortable when the power is applied. Remember, you are placing the blade in the water, not slapping the face into the water, not pulling it back as it goes into the water.

The trailing hand is still at shoulder height (even above) and begins to move forward to push on the shaft. The push can be introduced as you get the stroke right. Work one thing at a time for now.

Do not force your body to over extend forward, forcing at this stage is lightly to cause the kayak to wabble or bouce more than is desired, you want everything to be nice and smooooooth, a fluid motion is what you will ultimatley want to achieve. 

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 UNWIND from your torso. Your leading arm IS NOT pulling or bending. The leading arm is in fact pushing the paddle out away from the side of the kayak as your torso unwinds. Imagine that your hand remains about the same distance away from your torso and in the same relative position, it's your torso that is moving.

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.

The trailing arm is extending forward, hand high, up at about eye level, moving into position to begin the next stroke.

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 back and away from the kayak, (wing blades will naturally want to move out away from the kayak, encourage it), start to exit the water just before it draws level with the seat. Try not to over rotate the blade in the water and get it behind you, there is no power to be gained here.

Lift it clear of the water before it passes your hip. Now your arm can bend a little to get the lift done, but throughout all the previous movements, your arm should not be bending to pull the paddle, never!

Lift the blade to at least shoulder height! The arm will bend as this happens, that's ok, the blade is out of the water now. You are rotating your torso and winding up for the next stroke. Well done!

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.
  

• Feel the stroke in your torso, not your arm.

• 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 "death grip". 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 high wind conditions, and to be better prepared for emergency low braces.