Adventure Races

Sprocket77

I'm a newbie to this and I was wondering what happens on a kayak stage where the race is using double sit on top kayaks, do you have to wait for the next person to arrive and paddle off with them?

If so does that not defeat the point of the stage altogether, what's the point of being good at kayaking if you're reliant on someone who's never paddled?

yop

Sprocket77 wrote: »

I'm a newbie to this and I was wondering what happens on a kayak stage where the race is using double sit on top kayaks, do you have to wait for the next person to arrive and paddle off with them?

If so does that not defeat the point of the stage altogether, what's the point of being good at kayaking if you're reliant on someone who's never paddled?

Yip, u can wait for your mate or go with who ever is there. Its a lottery

ThisRegard

Sprocket77 wrote: »

If so does that not defeat the point of the stage altogether, what's the point of being good at kayaking if you're reliant on someone who's never paddled?

Just ask them if they've paddled before, if you're not happy with the answer ask someone else, that's how it's usually done.

GoHardOrGoHome

The kayak section of most of these races is quite short (8-12) minutes so it doesn't have a huge effect on your time.

If you're good at kayaking go in the back and tell the person in front to slow down their stroke, put the paddle in deeper etc. as needs be. You can synchronise your stroke so that you don't clash paddles. I've never come out of the kayak stage annoyed at being held up

Sprocket77

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

The kayak section of most of these races is quite short (8-12) minutes so it doesn't have a huge effect on your time.

If you're good at kayaking go in the back and tell the person in front to slow down their stroke, put the paddle in deeper etc. as needs be. You can synchronise your stroke so that you don't clash paddles. I've never come out of the kayak stage annoyed at being held up

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking it would be better to sit in the front and get them to copy my stroke, but I see what you mean about synchronising the strokes.

GoHardOrGoHome

Sprocket77 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking it would be better to sit in the front and get them to copy my stroke, but I see what you mean about synchronising the strokes.

The novice might be worried about falling out etc so if they know that somebody is taking care of things that can calm them a bit. Just get them to paddle steadily and if you start to veer left or right you can correct it yourself gradually with a few stronger strokes on the side that you're veering towards. Don't distract them by telling them to put a reverse stroke in. And don't put a reverse stroke in yourself, a few positive strokes will correct your direction and you won't lose any momentum.

Check that they're holding their paddle correctly (equi-distant from both blades) and that the blades are the right way around. You should be able to read the writing on the face of the blade (if there is writing on the blade it should not be upside down).

Try not to splash and have a strong, slow, deep rhythm rather than a frantic shallow stroke.