Whether you’re an experienced paddler or a beginner, improving your technique is always the goal. Becoming a better paddler doesn’t just come from spending hours on the water—it comes from understanding the mechanics behind every movement, the way your body, blade, and stroke work together to propel the boat forward.
To truly elevate your paddling skills, focus on these three key components: body mechanics, blade mechanics, and stroke mechanics. Master these, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in your overall performance, both as an individual and as part of the team.
1. Know Your Body Mechanics
Understanding your body and its role is key to learning how to develop better paddling skills. Understanding the role of body movement and alignment can help you create more stroke power and boat glide, which are essential for any paddler.
- Body movement creates boat glide: When you move your body in linear alignment and with the boats trajectory you will create synchronicity which in turn creates a boat that moves with ease and effortlessness on the water. Being an asset to a team is not just about how hard you paddle; it’s about moving your body the same way the same way as your team mates.
- Body alignment creates stroke power: Proper alignment ensures you’re transferring the weight of your body onto the paddle to get the most resistance when it hits the water. When your body is positioned to execute the proper technique you’ll be able to pull water with greater strength, maximizing stroke power.
2. Understand Blade Mechanics
The blade is your only connection to the water. Knowing what angles are required to move the boat forward without steering is something each paddler must understand to truly become a better paddler and asset to a team.
- Blade alignment creates boat glide: When the blade enters the water, its alignment is crucial. If you’re not aligned properly, you’re either wasting energy or not getting the full power of each stroke. Proper blade alignment reduces drag, allowing the boat to glide forward more smoothly.
- Blade alignment creates stroke effectiveness: It’s not just about getting the blade in the water; it’s about the blade traveling and exiting the water to deliver the intended action of each phase of the stroke. A properly aligned blade at every stage of the stroke increases the amount of force you’re transferring to the blade, making a powerful connection to the water.
3. Master Stroke Mechanics
Your stroke is the deliverance of each component of the teams paddling technique. Each component of the stroke plays a role in the boat’s performance and efficiency.
- Stroke sequencing creates boat glide: A smooth, well-sequenced stroke will help maintain a constant, efficient boat glide. The catch, the pull, the exit and the recovery all need to be coordinated amongst each paddler for the boat to move forward without interruptions. When your stroke is fluid, the boat moves with more efficiency or boat glide.
- Stroke setup creates stroke power: The setup of your stroke is that critical moment in transferring maximum body weight to get stroke power. From your grip on the paddle to your foot position and to your body’s own momentum, needs to be aligned and ready to generate as much force as possible. With the right setup, you’ll generate more power with less effort.
The Right Mindset: Being an Asset to the Boat
A truly great paddler isn’t just focused on their own technique—they’re also focused on being an asset to the team. The goal isn’t only personal improvement but also how you can make the boat and crew more efficient as a whole. Whether in a team environment or solo, paddlers with a team-first mindset tend to have better overall performances because they’re constantly working to adjust and improve their role.
Self-Awareness and Accountability
Self-awareness and accountability are two of the most important traits in a paddler. A great paddler knows their strengths and weaknesses, and they’re more able to adjust based on what the boat or coach needs. If you're able to make adjustments, stay open to feedback, and continuously improve yourself, you become an invaluable asset to any team—especially when preparing for a race.
When you hold yourself accountable, you also contribute to a more cohesive team. You’re able to listen, adapt, and make changes that ultimately help the boat perform better. Whether you’re practicing for fun or gearing up for a race, these traits help you elevate your paddling to the next level.
Conclusion: Developing Skills and Advancing
Becoming a better paddler takes time, patience, and a focus on improving key mechanics. By understanding how your body, blade, and stroke interact, you’ll build a strong foundation that will make you more efficient and effective on the water. But it’s not just about technique—it’s about developing a mindset that focuses on continuous growth, accountability, and teamwork.
As you work to improve these mechanics, remember that a paddler’s real strength lies in their ability to adjust, learn, and contribute to the team as a whole. Stay committed to the process, and with time, you’ll notice big improvements that will make you a better paddler—and a valuable asset to any boat.
If your team is interested in a race tune up clinic contact me for details. You can learn more about dragon boat clinics by clicking here. Virtual video review is also available when in a time crunch and you need to get race ready! contact me at: info@cherylroose.com
Find the course or program
|