: Hi gents, thanks for all the replies. sounds like technique is the
: big issue , I have been surfing the web (YOU tube) and a few
: other places. I discovered that being a rookie my form is off
: for sure But I dicovered on the you tube videos that My paddle
: blade is not in the water deep enough (again part of the form
: thing)

: having interpeted GP paddling as keeping hands low and paddling
: with torso (my abs were sore at the end of my 4 hour paddle sat)
: But looking at the few videos it appears Im only using the tips
: of the blades (30% perhaps) vs the videos where the paddler has
: much more blade in water (75% +- almost to loom ) the GP videos
: I just looked at although the elbows were not up in the sky like
: a euro paddler they were much higher angle than I was using (Im
: FOR THE MOST PART rowing).

: this perhaps Could be a major Factor??? not using enough surface
: area per a given stroke???

: "John"

Hi John,
Yep, less of the blade in the water means less power transmitted. I usually aim to have my hand nearly graze the gunwale on the immersed side. This guarantees the full blade is in the water.

Mike Savage
South West Cork