Subject: Re: baidarka Backrests
From: Greg Stamer (gstamer@magicnet.net)
Date: Wed Aug 30 2000 - 23:33:45 EDT
>Anyone else out there who doesn't use a back-rest? I do lean back on the
>'rest' when resting, stretching or doing lay-back rolls, but mostly paddle
>with a slight lean forward. Just wondering if anyone else prefers not
>using a back-rest.
SNIP
Hello Harvey,
I find that in my glass Anas Acuta kayak (pseudo Greenland-style) I always
apply pressure to the backband when performing a strong forward stroke
because there is so much volume in the foredeck area that my knees are
quite bent, the seat is raised off the floor and my only real point of
contact is my feet and butt. My thighs touch the thigh-braces only very
lightly during a forward stroke. In this style of kayak, pushing on the
footpegs enhances my torso rotation when supported by a good backband.
On the other hand, a "real" Greenland-style qajaq feels much different than
the Anas Acuta. As you know, your legs are almost straight-out in front of
you, with very little knee bend, the masik hits you low on your thighs and
you sit very low. For these kayaks I lean forward slightly and perform an
isometric "lift" with alternating knees against the masik more than I push
with my feet, so my back usually does not even touch the back-brace. My
natural tendency is to lift the knee on the opposite side of the pulling
hand, the knee of the same side as the pulling hand drops down as a result
of the foot pressing on the footpeg. The feeling of the knee lift is
similar to someone holding your legs down as you do a sit-up. "Crunching"
your abs with your legs supported so low helps to drive the boat forward. I
noticed that some of the younger Greenlanders, including Maligiaq, really
emphasize this and their spine pumps up and down during a sprint as if
doing situps. My own stroke does not have much up and down spine movement
but the "crunch" feeling is quite noticeable. Does anyone else on the list
use a similar technique?
So at this point in my paddling career, my use of a back-brace depends upon
the kayak that I am using and my fit in the kayak.
Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida
-
Baidarka Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be
reproduced outside Baidarka or Baidarka archives without author's permission
Submissions: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions: baidarka-request@lists.intelenet.net
Searchable archive: http://rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b27 : Fri Sep 01 2000 - 01:00:02 EDT