If you want to paddle fast, efficient, for long durations the forward stroke is definitely a learned skill. It was obvious from the beginning that Jan thoroughly knows the subject and has taught the class before. She dissected the stroke into components and drilled us through them and linked them together in a logical learning order, a real lesson plan.

A quick run down of some of the emphasized stoke components:

• Torso rotation - move the paddle with the major muscles of your back and abdomen not your arms. Use shoulder rotation.

• Push the footbrace - Help the rotation by pushing on stroke side peddle.

• Lower elbow not past the plane of the back - the stroke side elbow should not be pulled past your back. If you do, it just pulls the blade up at the end of the stroke causing the stern to plunge adding drag and wasting effort.

• Focus on rotating shoulder back - everyone stops his or her rotation too soon.

• Hands up - keep the upper hand up at eye level. Do not allow it to dip at the end of the rotation.

• Vertical spine - keep you spine straight and vertical throughout the entire stoke. Rotate around its vertical axis.

• Loose grip - allow the paddle shaft to move without causing wrist flexure to avoid injury to wrists and elbows.

• xit - the side of the blade exits the water vertically.

• Lower elbow out - on the stroke side "hold an imaginary ball under your arm".

• Read the watch - again keep the top hand up by looking at the back of your wrist during the rotation.

• Catch - spear the forward blade into the water before starting rotation.

• Shoulder forward - focus on rotating not leaning the forward shoulder forward.

There was on the water demonstration and practice, with before during and after video taping of each student. The video was viewed during the lunch break and at the lesson wrap-up. Viewing the video is an amazing teaching aid. Class size, of a dozen boats, seemed just about right. A good time was had by all. Len did an amazing job of arranging such a quality class with a fabulous discount and CKF rebate.

    Dave Houser

A very brief mention of the Power Strokes Workshop conducted by Jen of Aqua Adventures.

First of all , this was the first of three of the workshops conducted by Aqua as a result of the CKF Program which we have offered to members.

On this past Sunday, 11 of us were on the beach at Alamitos Bay at 9AM. Those members were:
    Dave "Dublin" O'Connor (scars and all)
    Steve Wilson
    Richard Henley
    Dave Houser
    Sue Cunningham
    George Kulakowski
    Beth Powis
    Mike Condit
    Mark Alexander
    Len Goodman

We started off by introducing ourselves and briefly reviewing our paddling background. The group was comprised of some very strong and skilled paddlers and a few who only had a year or less experience.

Jen commenced each segment with a "show and tell" discussing the various phases of proper paddling tecnique and breaking down the power stroke into various movements or executions.

The primary phase that we worked on was torso rotation, then hand - arm and then - elbow placement.

As we worked on each phase Jen had us paddle a few hundred yards in a circle or triangle course following each other as she stood on a nearby dock and filmed each of us with a camcorder. After each phase we gathered in the nearby indoor location of the Long Beach Sailing Center and viewed on a TV set what we were trying to accomplish.

We worked on our style for about 3 hours then broke for lunch. Afterwards we spent another 2 hours working on putting the various aspects of power strokes together.

Once again Jen reviewed our style and emphasized the importance of thinking about what we had learned. Though some of the newly introduced techniques may at first be awkward or tiring we should work on them until they become am intrinsic part of our paddling memory.

We all agreed that it was a very worthwhile day. I slept very well Sunday evening and amazingly enough felt more limber and bouncy than I have for some time.

For those who have missed the Power Strokes class be aware that the following workshops are arranged and are highly recommended:

Navigation - Sunday, March 28 - Aqua - Alamitos Bay
Bracing - Saturday, April 10 - Aqua - Alamitos Bay
GUIDING NECESSITIES - Saturday, May 8 - Wayne Horodowich, USK, Alamitos Bay

Membership fee after CKF rebate is $50 for CKF members for all workshops.

Len Goodman