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Kayak Racing Tips - Take the Lead

By: Rob Daniels

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!

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!

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlesexpress.com

Rob Daniels is an avid kayaker and outdoor enthusiasts more at Snorkeling Shop and Kayak Escape

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