Paddle 2 Fitness

What training should you do leading into a racing weekend? Should you train more or less, harder or slower? In this podcast, we talk about what training you should do, the day you should have off and revisit an old podcast on what to do on Race Day.

When someone walks with swagger, they walk with style, rhythm and one step simply rolls into the next. So let’s add this to your paddling. Paddling with swagger will increase power, improve balance, catch activation and have you paddling faster by simply adding one movement to your stroke. Add some swagger today. Happy paddling, Coach

Do you still struggle a bit in choppy, washing machine conditions, when waves are coming from all sides and are difficult to read, especially paddling close to cliffs? In this podcast we cover all of these conditions and more linking you back to past podcasts and teaching you how to bring them all together.

Are you are falling into the water at the exit of the stroke? Most surf ski paddlers continue to pull the paddle back behind their body resulting in them falling into the water as they lift the paddle out. This simple refocus on what to do in this situation should help you to control this situation, not fall in and catch the next runner.

Adding a seat pad to your craft’s seat can do a number of positive thing. It can put your body in a better biomechanical position by increase body height above the water to give you more power and angle your hips forward. In this podcast, we explain all of these improvements and which seat pads are used for what purpose. Happy listening, Coach

Wash Riding is a great training and racing skill which should be learnt in a safe environment with fellow paddlers. There are three different wash riding positions which we discuss in this podcast as well as the Gentleman’s Agreement when taking leads and also when changing positions.

Over the years of our podcasts, we have broken everything down into its parts. Now its time to bring them all together and discuss the importance of timing. Our focus is to get the correct sequence and ensure that the paddle is our first movement followed by rotation and leg drive. We also give you a new drill so your timing is 100% every time.

When purchasing your first or upgrading your craft, its not as simply as just jumping up a model at the same weight as your current craft. A craft’s width and weight will make a massive difference with balance and you ability to be able to paddle with 100% power. This podcast will explain that jumping up one model is actually jumping up 4-6 difference craft.

As a coach of may years, I get this question a lot. While the question itself is simple, simply shortening your leg length to gain more power is not the answer. Like with all our podcasts, its a more efficient technique which will result in you shortening your leg length.

This month we discuss what paddlers mean when they say “keep downward pressure in both hands as the paddle goes through the water”. We explain the difference between a ‘parallel’ action and a ‘U’ action and give you the best technique drill so you know what downward pressure feels like. We would also love to hear your thoughts on this technique drill and any additional advi...

In this month’s podcast we discuss where you should be looking while paddling and why. Looking in the wrong direction or place can affect your technique, balance and efficiency. If looking in the right place, this will improve your breathing and boat control. If you are unsure where you should be looking, this is the podcast for you. Happy Paddling, Coach

This month we discuss how to brace. Bracing is a skill that assists you with balance and control of your ski when you’re resting on a swell / wave. It is a very important skill to master and we trust this podcast will help you understand and put into practice. COACH

On this month’s podcast we are discussing paddle / blade size. What size you should have and how you can work out how to find it. For us its all about ‘feel’ in the water and we will explain how you can find this feel to make sure you have the right blade size for your paddling discipline and or event.

In this month’s podcast we discuss why its important to be doing a proper warm before any race, time trail or sold training session. The aim of a warm up is to prepare the body for what its about to do. Our Paddle 2 Fitness 25min warm up, warms up your technique, power output and will get your heart rate close enough to that of your racing heart rate so your ready to race from the first stro...

This month we discuss 80/20 training or polarise training. This is where you train 80% of the time at a slow twitch fibre pace and 20% of the time at a fast twitch fibre pace. We work this type of training in conjunction with our last podcast ‘The 180 Formula’. However, here we are now going to explain to you that you should only train 20% of the time at higher intensity levels (105% pace) and 80%...

If I was to ask you that in a single session I could make you healthier, burn FAT and decrease your stress levels, would you? Dr Phil Maffetone’s ‘THE 180 FORMULA’ is the foundation on which I launched Paddle 2 Fitness and what we have used to train hundreds of our athletes in paddling and surf life saving. This podcast is my coaching philosophy of Phil’s concept and why I...

A race start can make or break your race. In this month’s podcast we discuss warm ups, starting techniques and how much effort you should put into your start. Happy paddling, Coach

On this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we help you understand how far an angle you should turn when your paddling in a downwind. We give you a vision of an old fashioned clock face, which will help you on where to look and turn your craft. We have only been using this drill for a couple of months now but have had 100% success with all level of paddlers. We hope it helps you as well. Happy...

Which is better: a paddle leash or a leg leash? Are they both safe or is one more unsafe than the other? In this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we discuss the advantages and disadvantages in using both the paddle leash and the leg leash. In addition, we explain our thoughts on at which skill level paddlers should be using one type of leash before transferring to the other. Happy Paddling.

In this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast, we talk about the slight adjustments for you to be more efficient when paddling into the wind. I was taught this by Dean Gardner almost 30 years ago and now teach it to my paddlers. The aim is to maintain your rhythm, not allow the paddle to lift during the push and to keep a perfect catch angle. If you are struggling with this, then this is the podc...

On this month’s Paddle 2 Fitness Podcast we discuss how to paddle over boat washes. Paddlers make a number of common errors when these small, closely compacted swells go under their paddling craft. We will explain how your paddle stroke can be adjusted to help paddle over them efficiently.

Foot peddle angle is one of the common things paddler’s overlook. If incorrect, it can affect your balance, footplate contact, leg drive as well as your ability to turn. This month we discuss the right and wrong angles and what happens if your foot peddles are incorrectly set up. Happy paddling

On this month’s Surf Ski Coach Podcast we ask you to see if you have one leg longer than the other. If the answer is yes, we give you a couple of ways to work this out as well as a simple solution.

In every sport, perfect posture is key. With perfect posture the body can generate and transfer power from perfect technique into speed. In this month’s Surf Ski Coach podcast, we explain what is poor posture, ways to understand / fix poor posture and a dry land exercise to help you improve poor posture.  We are sure your mum once said,”sit up, shoulders back”. Your coach is abou...

On this month’s Surf Ski Coach podcast we talk about paddling over large, very step swells and why you should avoid launching your surf ski into the air. The aim is to keep you surf ski touching the water and paddle over the swell without separating your surf ski from the surface. We hope this simply skill will help you paddle faster and avoid any possible damage. Happy Paddling. Photo: Ben...