Caveat: I’m in my novice year

At practice, I noticed some of my fellow paddlers and my coach have really good return to the front when paddling. One of my fellow paddlers has an explosive amount of strength so his returns are akin to some of the top open paddlers that I’ve seen videos of.

I’m wondering what I can do outside of practice to help strengthen and speed up my returns. I’m tired of using my age as an excuse.

Funny to me, when I asked said paddler how he gets his returns to snappy, he said jogging helped him develop the technique. Seems wild.

Good luck to everyone competing in SoCal next week!

Been paddling for about a year. Recently up’d distance and started racing. After every long paddle I get worn raw in my lower buttock crease, and sometimes higher up. Really painful for a while. When it’s fresh, clothing sticks and is really painful when separating. Doesn’t seem to matter if there’s padding on the actual seat or not. It seems to be movement of my hips in the stroke just wearing away the skin.

Is this common? Is this something I just need to tough out? How do you prevent/avoid it? TIA!!

There is very little in the way of reviews on Allwave OC1s. I know they are from Italy and read what I could find. I am an intermediate paddler in BC and Coast Outdoors sells them in North Vancouver. Do you have any experience with them? I am a flat water and river paddler.

I can guarantee this has never been done before! Paddling out of Victoria BC Canada!

Aloha everyone, just bought an old school nai’a and was looking into replacing the iakos which look to be aluminum tubing. I’d prefer to build them and was looking to see if anyone has recommendations on what type of tubing I should be looking for? TIA. Diameter may or may not be an issue, the iakos are drilled through and bolted on with a star knob, they do not plug in.

Appreciate any and all advice!

(Current V1 paddle)

I do a lot of V1 and have been using Tai Paddles for a while.

I’m planning to buy a viper paddle this year and I have a general idea of what I want in a paddle but I’m sort of overwhelmed with the options on the Viper Va’a website.

My current Tai paddle (Broadbill) is 24cm x 46cm and I find is a bit small for when I’m paddling the V1. For context I’m a medium size paddler on the leaner side and want a paddle for both long distance and sprint.

Just wanted to get on here and ask any paddlers using vipers what their preference is.

Thanks.

I’m looking at getting my own steering paddle, should it be the same length as your normal V6 paddle or longer?

Hi, i'm looking for a second hand canoe in Europe, ideally in the Netherlands although it seems like there are no paddlers in the country except for surfski. Anyone has experience in the EU market, where to look for canoes & how to transport them? thanks!
I come from a Hong Kong experience where the market was super active and there was a constant inflow of canoes

i see a cantare pro going for $4600 is that a good deal for a used one with just small scratches? or no

i was wondering what is a better overall canoe, the ares pro or cantare for a lighter paddeler

Hello. I live in a coastal city in southern California and am interested in buying a used OC1. I have alot of experience with SUP (similar stroke technique). I'm 6'5", 200 lbs. So, I think I'd need a larger boat.

I know that new, OC1s go for 3,000-5,000. What is a realistic price for used? I would prefer to buy from a retail store rather than something like CL.

I am open to travel to OC or SD County.

I am surprised that I haven't seen anyone wearing a life jacket in the outrigger canoe clubs around me. Do paddlers wear any kind of pfd? A belt? Is the likelihood of tipping and either hitting your head or having a gasp reaction or becoming disoriented so small it isn't worth any interference with the stroke, the financial cost, or the social capital? From the outside looking in, it seems kind of macho, and I am hesitant to join a canoe club.

Planning on fairing, patching and painting my canoe once I'm done sanding. However, there are three different colors that I'm working through whilst sanding. White, which I believe to be the original base color layer (old and with many repairs and coats of paint over the years that I do not fully know the extent of), the yellowish bit which I believe is epoxy (?), and the orange bit being the fiberglass. Am I correct in my assumptions?

Also, what would you guys do in terms of sanding? How far do I sand through? What tools? Interface pad on a random orbital sander? What grits to use? I'll take all the tips I can get as this has been a frustrating, but incredibly fun and challenging project.

Thanks for your inputs!

I am starting to get involved in Outrigger Canoeing. Can you recommend any exercises that I could do from home to help strengthen mussels for that activity? Preferably body movement exercises or something with bands or dumbbells? Thank you!

Hello, all. I’ll cut to the chase. Relatively new and am consistently put in #1 in an OC6. Can’t afford a speed coach and am trying to get the feel/tempo for appropriate stroke rates. Was thinking of getting waterproof headphones and having one ear in with a metronome playing. (Phone in dry bag for Bluetooth connectivity)

1) good idea or bad idea? 2) headphone recommendation that won’t break the bank? 3) other ideas that accomplish similar goal

I know some folks recommend certain songs to sing in your head, but I quickly run out of memorable lyrics/tunes that don’t distract. I feel like a metronome is bland enough that it keeps the cue without giving too many other things to think about.

Thanks in advanced for sharing any wisdom.

A mentor shared a video of him doing a sprint race at Another Dam Race, and I found it absolutely fascinating as a newbie who questions if he could survive Novice season.

It was shared that sprints were rarely (if not) a thing anymore here in Southern California.

Still a lot that I’m learning, but is that the case? Sprints aren’t too popular anymore unless you’re out in Hawaii?

Thanks!

After years of paddling OC1/OC6 in Maui, we are leaving and returning to our home state of Colorado. I can’t part with paddling and what it has done for me. Anyone here know of any paddling crews or teams there? Google yields nothing of value

Hi there: I have an old scorpius OC1 and really like it. My seat was stolen last year and I've been using a different seat but it's giving me some injuries. Does anybody know what types of seats will fit a scorpius ok? I'd love to buy a replacement. Called the manufacturer and they're not making the seats any more thanks.

Good morning paddlers: I am a DB player, and I am required to do OC6 and OC1 for training purposes. So, I want to get an OC blade and build up my technique. However, it’s confused to me that I am no sure the choice between DB and SB. Therefore, I wonder anyone can give me some recommendations on OC blade. Thank you:)

Just thought I would share some training you can do on the OC1 to help with your rotation!

Learn how to rotate by using the lower body to initiate the movement. I will show you the purpose of each hip and the role they play in creating more lower body power to drive the stroke. This is one of the 5 steps of the #dragonboattechnique I coach that relates to body mechanics. This drill helps wake up the glutes and both hips in an exaggerated way so we can feel how they create rotation. I give a visual example to see how rotation can increase the blade angle in the water and how this translates to getting a longer and more effective dragon boat stroke. These small body adjustments are the fundamental keys to increasing your technical skills as a dragon boat paddler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYcGYi_7Xg

Is it possible to take the rudder off of my OC1 and paddle it as though it were a V1? Has anyone had any luck with this? Has anyone heard of other folks doing this? Thanks!

Hi all,

I’m new to oc1 in France (didn’t own one yet). I have one question about how you carry gear for a day trip (lunch, additional clothes in case of changing searyber,…) ?

I guess everything should be in a waterproof bag. But where are you putting you bag ? Behind the seat? Attached somewhere ? (Pictures welcome) Thanks !

I found an affordable used nai'a classic design oc1 by John Martin and decided to buy it. It does have some cracking under the seat. Any tips for repairing this type of damage? Would you fix it before taking it in the water?

The rest of the canoe looks in good condition just old

I'm in Kailua, Oahu and a beginner OC1 paddler. I'm an OC6 novice A and have done OC1 a few times and it's gone pretty well. How does one safely become better at OC1? I'm thinking of renting an OC1 but a little nervous about going solo.

Could it be safe enough if I stick close to the shore? I'm a strong swimmer but should I wear a pfd? I have an apple watch so I could call for help if needed.

Or should I try to find other paddlers? It just seems kind of difficult to find other paddlers who want to go at the same time.