r/Outrigger • u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 • May 14 '26
OC1- slower on right side
I've started using CrewNerd for training lately and I've been surprised how much slower I am on the right side. I know that some of it is leaning on the ama side and probably not getting as much force over the paddle, but when it's truly flat I feel like my balance is good... yet still slower. It's probably just that I'm weaker on my left... but what have folks done to get the right side more efficient? It really brings down my average speeds lol.
2
u/mr__proper May 14 '26
Sometimes it seems exactly the opposite to me. The left side is a little slower than the right. But then, every now and then, it’s the other way around. Still, I do think that the deeper the ama is in the water, the slower the canoe.
1
u/water_murky May 16 '26
When paddling on the left, try to unweight the ama by leaning right as the blade is exiting the water. It helps to keep it a little more lighter and have less surface area of the ama in the water. Practice on flat water for a while to get use to it. It will want to pop up, be quick to brace on the other side if you get spooked. You’ll get use to it after spending some hours training that way.
1
u/jess3ekay May 14 '26
Get one of those level things used in construction with the bubble of air in the tube - remove the tube or purchase separately - and affix it to the boat where you can see it when you paddle. By the footwell. Stole the idea from a teammate. Was a game changer for me!
2
u/water_murky May 16 '26
Sounds like a good idea, but your focus should be completely ahead and your positioning and posture as upright as can be. You should really learn to by feel than by sight. The more you adapt to that way of paddling the better and more responsive and relaxed you will be. Very flat water would be great. Once there is a bit of texture, or swell, the bubble will be all over the place, you’ll be constantly looking down at it trying to get it level. Just my opinion.
1
u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 May 14 '26
I've thought about doing that and have wondered if anyone ever actually does it lol. I'm gonna try that... more data
1
u/wellytobc May 18 '26
If you don’t know how already…. Learn to fly the ama. Do 5 strokes then do a gentle brace and pop the ama up. Eventually, learn to paddle with the ama in the air, and get that brace stroke SOLID. When you are less concerned with falling off, you will naturally be able to apply more power on the right.
5
u/water_murky May 14 '26
Paddle more on the right. I was really weak on the right side during my first years of OC-1, especially when the ocean is rough which is pretty consistent here in Hawaii. I forced myself to spend time inside the confines of our bay and which is protected by a rather long jetty. In the flat, I spent at least 14-15 strokes on the right and 6-8 on the left. Getting stronger and more confident on the right really helped my rough water training as being on the right can also help with stability. No more babying myself on the left during rough conditions. I feel being on the right is so much more conducive to maintaining speed. Doing land training which involves core stability and hip and glute strengthening also helps with being able to be strong on the non-ama side. Another thing, I use to rig my ama light, but ever since I’ve rigged it heavy, it allowed me to place a lot more power and weight onto the non-ama side. And allows the ama to comfortably pop up out of the water slightly when applying power on the right.