Category: kayak racing

Training for the Whitewater Race Season

Post author By Ray
Post date February 27, 2008

The St. George River Race (Searsmont, Maine) is just 4 weeks away. Beginning this week, I’m officially in training. Today I got up off the couch, did 20 situps, and got back on the couch!
Those planning to compete in the Maine whitewater race circuit, please do not read beyond this line.

Actually, I stay pretty fit during the winter. It’s all cross training, I like to believe. Shovelling my 250 foot driveway, cross country skiing, playing indoor soccer, a little bit of weight training and indoor rowing, and keeping up with my two daughters is all part of the picture. But now, with the first race 4 weeks away and the big one, the Kenduskeag, 7 weeks away, it’s time to get serious. My goal is to paddle 2 – 3 days per week in the coming weeks, and to increase my workouts on my nonpaddling days as well.

Resources for training include Simon River Sports’ Training Tips and a couple of Training Plans from Kayak Race.

St. George River Race — Searsmont, Maine

Post author By Ray
Post date April 1, 2007

kayak racing Maine rivers Uncategorized

St. George River Race — Pulling hard for the finish.

Post author By Ray
Post date April 1, 2007

kayak racing whitewater

St. George River Race — Race to the Finish

Post author By Ray
Post date April 1, 2007

kayak racing Maine rivers Uncategorized

St. George River Race: Fred Ludwig closes in on a first place finish.

Post author By Ray
Post date April 1, 2007

Ludwig finished several minutes in front of the field with a time of 38:23.

kayak racing Maine rivers Uncategorized

Ruahine Swallow, St. George River

Post author By Ray
Post date March 28, 2007

Paddling the Ruahine Swallow down a stretch of flatwater on the St. George River.
More information on the Swallow here.

kayak racing Maine rivers Uncategorized

Magog Falls, St. George

Post author By Ray
Post date March 28, 2007

Magag Falls on the St. George River. 3/28/07. Water level on the St. George seems just as high as last weekend, despite the cooler temperatures and lack of significant rainfall.

kayak racing Maine rivers Uncategorized

St. George River, Magag Falls

Post author By Ray
Post date March 25, 2007

The drop over the old dam at Magog is a Class III drop at some water levels, but makes for a pretty easy slide when the water level is as high as it is right now on the St. George River, south of Searsmont. (Photo 3-25-07).

kayak racing

Hull Speed in Muscle-Powered Boats

Post author By Ray
Post date March 30, 2005

This article comparing the hydrodynamics of kayaks and canoes with the new W boat is of interest to anyone interested in understanding the priniciples of kayak design and hull speed.

Call me an unbeliever, but I have some doubts about the “Wavewalk” twin hulled paddle craft advertised on the above site. They seem to be trying to market the boat as a performance craft, equal to a kayak in the surf, in whitewater, or for dead ahead cruising speed. There is likely a niche for the Wavewalk among recreational paddlers, but I can’t see how the Wavewalk could equal a good whitewater boat for slaloming between rocks or going over a drop. And what about paddling it into a 20-knot headwind? — standing up or kneeling, there’s still a lot added windage there over a kayak. Call me a purist, but I’ll take the sleek lines of a 17 foot composite kayak any day. And maybe it’s because as a kid I got told too many times to never stand up in a canoe or rowboat, but I’m not sure I could get used to the standing up part either.